Notre Dame head football coach Marcus Freeman is at the center of a legal inquiry following an alleged physical altercation at a high school wrestling tournament earlier this month. While a police report has been filed, both Freeman and the university are steadfast in their denial of any wrongdoing. 

The incident occurred on Saturday, Jan. 3, during the Al Smith Wrestling Invitational held at Mishawaka High School. Freeman was in attendance to support his son, Vinny Freeman, a standout senior wrestler for Penn High School.

According to witnesses and a subsequent police report, the situation escalated following a match involving the younger Freeman. The South Bend Tribune confirmed that Chris Fleeger, an assistant wrestling coach at New Prairie High School and a former Purdue All-American, filed a battery report with a Mishawaka police officer stationed at the event.

Fleeger alleges that physical contact occurred as the parties moved through a doorway into a hallway. However, Notre Dame Athletics released an unequivocal statement defending their head coach, suggesting the police report and available video evidence will ultimately clear his name.

"Vinny Freeman, head coach Marcus Freeman's son, was verbally accosted during and after his wrestling match by a local wrestling coach," the university's statement read. "Marcus and Joanna Freeman intervened and removed Vinny from the situation. At no point did Coach Freeman physically engage with anyone. We believe that the police report, which includes video evidence, fully exonerates Coach Freeman and makes clear these accusations are unfounded." Reports indicate that law enforcement and school officials intervened to separate the Freemans and Fleeger after a heated verbal exchange involving Marcus’s wife, Joanna Freeman. 

The Mishawaka Police Department has since turned the completed investigation over to the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s office to determine if any charges are warranted. Freeman, who recently reaffirmed his commitment to the Fighting Irish for the 2026 season despite NFL interest, has not personally commented on the open investigation. As of Monday, the prosecutor’s office has not indicated a timeline for a charging decision.