Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame’s Dick Corbett Head Football Coach, has been named a finalist for the prestigious 2024 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, presented by the Football Writers Association of America. Freeman is among nine finalists vying for the honor.
In his third season at the helm, Freeman guided the Fighting Irish to an impressive 11-1 record, earning a No. 3 ranking in both the Associated Press (AP) and Coaches Polls and securing the No. 7 seed in the College Football Playoff. This marks Freeman's first recognition as a finalist for the award, which has previously been won by four legendary Notre Dame coaches: Ara Parseghian (1964), Lou Holtz (1988), Charlie Weis (2005), and Brian Kelly (2012).
Freeman’s squad racked up four wins against AP-ranked opponents this season, toppling No. 20 Texas A&M, No. 15 Louisville, No. 24 Navy, and No. 18 Army. The victory over Army was a milestone, marking Freeman's 11th ranked win as head coach — the most ever by a Notre Dame coach in their first three seasons.
The Irish dominated on both sides of the ball, finishing the regular season as one of the nation’s elite teams statistically. Key rankings include:
- 1st in team passing efficiency defense (94.10)
- 1st in turnovers gained (28)
- 1st in defensive touchdowns (6)
- 2nd in turnover margin (1.33)
- 3rd in scoring defense (13.6 points per game)
- 4th in scoring offense (39.8 points per game)
- 10th in total defense (296.8 yards per game)
Freeman’s achievements solidify his growing legacy in South Bend as he continues to raise the bar for the Fighting Irish.