Celebrating Notre Dame’s Sugar Bowl win over Georgia was a family affair for the Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman.
After Notre Dame defeated Georgia 23-10 on Thursday, Jan. 2 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Freeman, 38, posed with his wife, Joanand their six children on the field as confetti fell around them and the university band played joyfully in the background.
Marcus and Joanna married in 2010 after meeting during their time at Ohio State University. Together, they share six children: son Vinny17, girl Siena12, the boy Gino11, the boy Nikon9, the girl Capri, 7, and the boy Roko6.
With Notre Dame’s win, the team advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinals, where they will face Penn State on Thursday, January 9th. The winner of that game will then face the winner of Ohio State/Texas in the National Championship game on January 20th.
Joanna and the kids have been by Marcus’ side throughout his tenure at Notre Dame, dating back to his introductory press conference in 2021.
Shortly after his employment, Joanna candidly admitted that their relationship has not been entirely fairy-tale.
Marcus Freeman celebrating the win with his family ❤️ pic.twitter.com/4Q5JQFiUqv
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 3, 2025
“We don’t have a super romantic love story,” Joana said Yahoo Sports in 2021. “We have had many separations and make-ups. We fell hard. We fell fast. We were really young when we met, and in many ways, we really grew up and became adults together.”
After Thursday’s game, Freeman was asked about the historic significance of the win. Before this season, a black coach had never coached a game in the College Football Playoff. Along with the Penn State coach James Franklinthere are two black coaches in this year’s semi-final.
“You are very grateful,” said Freeman. “It’s a reminder that you are a representative for many others and many of our players who look just like me. Your color shouldn’t matter. Proof of your work should.”
He continued, “But it takes everyone. That’s what I keep reminding myself. When people will try to point the finger at you, it’s a great reminder (that) you’re not in this position without everybody, without all these guys. And that’s what I told them in the locker room.”
Freeman explained that he felt awkward at the post-match trophy ceremony, insisting that the spotlight should not shine solely on him.
“I couldn’t get off that stage fast enough because everybody couldn’t be up there,” he told reporters. “It’s about the team. It’s about everyone putting everything they have into making sure we can achieve that success.”
Freeman added, “So it’s a great honor. It’s a privilege. But again, as the head coach of this country, I understand that we’re not in this position if everybody in this program doesn’t do their job.”
