The Catholic convert, who hopes to lead the University of Notre Dame to its first national football championship since 1988, credits his players — and his faith — for the Fighting Irish’s success, he told reporters this weekend.
Marcus Freeman took over the program in 2021 after the man who hired him, predecessor Brian Kelly, left for Louisiana State University.
Freeman had come to Notre Dame that same year to serve as Kelly’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He had a choice: follow his boss to LSU or stay at Notre Dame, it was reported at the time.
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Promoted to Notre Dame head coach on December 3, 2021, Freeman reinstated the team’s tradition of attending mass together before every home game. This was before he became Catholic.
“I remember being a recruit and coming to a Notre Dame football game — I was in high school — and watching the team come out of the basilica for the pregame Mass, and I thought that was the coolest thing,” Freeman told reporters at on Saturday at Atlanta, where the Irish are preparing to face Ohio State University in the College Football Playoff National Championship. “I remember seeing movies about it.”
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman reinstated the team’s tradition of bringing back the pregame mass before home games. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The 39-year-old Ohio State graduate reflected on his first year at Notre Dame, recalling that there was no pregame Mass.
“So when I became a coach, it was something that I had talked about with the administration, when the decision was made not to hold mass before the game and what we needed to do to change that… It was… important to me that you change that Freeman said.
Although raised a Christian, Freeman was not Catholic when he arrived on campus in 2021.
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Freeman was baptized into the Catholic Church and received his first Holy Communion the following year, according to a September 11, 2022 bulletin at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Granger, Indiana.
Team chaplain Father Nate Wills helped prepare Freeman for his Catholic conversion.
Freeman converted to Catholicism in 2022, before his first full season as coach at Notre Dame. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
“I think being at the University of Notre Dame — it’s a place where growing your faith is encouraged,” Freeman said.
“It’s not just in Catholicism. It’s the reality that you have a belief and faith in something bigger than yourself.”
“You have to believe beyond proof, faith beyond knowing…”
The players also share that belief, among them quarterback Riley Leonard.
Leonard started at Duke University, starting with the Blue Devils in 2022 and 2023. But an injury in 2023 forced him off the court, and he soon announced he would transfer to Notre Dame for his final season of eligibility.
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“Notre Dame on the transfer portal was my first and last visit,” Riley told reporters Saturday.
Riley has been open about his faith. He said he believes God had a plan for him to come to Notre Dame.
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard is devout in his faith. (Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
“I remember sitting in my room and praying at night, like, ‘Jesus, Lord, are you going to give me something, give me an offering?’ Riley said.
“The next day, I woke up and He woke up.”
Riley said Freeman is a humble man who doesn’t shy away from his faith.
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“Our players have studied the Bible,” Freeman told reporters. “I have a strong faith and … you have to believe beyond proof, faith beyond knowing, which is another motto for having faith. We’re not afraid of that. They’re not afraid of that and it’s important to us.”
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That belief will likely be on display Monday night as Freeman looks to become the first Notre Dame coach since Lou Holtz, a devout Catholic, to hoist a national championship trophy.
As the sign reads above the door at the east entrance of Notre Dame’s Basilica of the Sacred Heart, where the team’s pregame masses are held, “To God, Country, Notre Dame, in eternal glory.”
