Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman celebrated the bowl win with his entire family

On By Littum

Notre Dame’s Sugar Bowl victory celebration over Georgia was a family affair for the Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman.

After Notre Dame defeated Georgia 23-10 on Thursday, Jan. 2, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Freeman, 38, posed with his wife, Joannaand their six children on the field as confetti fell around them and the university band played jubilantly in the background.

Marcus and Joanna were married in 2010 after meeting during their time at Ohio State University. Together they share six children: son Vinny17, daughter Siena12, Sun Gino11, Sun Nico9, daughter Capri, 7 and Sun Rocco6.

With Notre Dame’s win, the team advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinals, where they will face Penn State on Thursday, January 9. The winner of that game will then face the winner of Ohio State/Texas in the National Championship Game on January 20.

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman's family guide his wife Joanna and their 6 children 572

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Courtesy of Marcus Freeman/Instagram Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has quite an impressive squad off the court as well. Freeman, 38, who became the head football coach at Notre Dame in December 2021, married his wife, Joanna Freeman, in 2010. The couple met during Marcus’ time at Ohio State University, where Marcus was a (…)

Joanna and the kids have been by Marcus’ side throughout his tenure at Notre Dame, going all the way back to his 2021 introductory press conference.

Soon after her appointment, Joanna candidly admitted that their relationship hasn’t exactly been the stuff of fairy tales.

“We don’t have a super romantic love story,” Joanna told Yahoo Sports in 2021. “We had many brides and make-ups. We fell hard. We fell fast. We were really young when we met and in many ways we really grew and matured into 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 head coach James Franklinthere are two black coaches in this year’s semi-finals.

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman celebrated Sugar Bowl victory with his entire family on the field
Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

“You are very grateful,” said Freeman. “It’s a reminder that you are a representation of many others and many of our players who look the same as me. Your color shouldn’t matter. The proof of your work should.”

He continued: “But it takes everybody. That’s what I keep reminding myself. When people will try to point the finger at you, it’s a good reminder (that) you’re not in this position without everybody, without all these guys. And I told them that in the locker room.”

Freeman explained that he felt awkward at the post-match trophy ceremony and insisted that the spotlight should not be on him alone.

“I couldn’t get away from that scene 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 place, I understand that we’re not in this position unless everybody in this program gets their job done.”