Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman will not face charges from an incident between him and a high school wrestling coach from Jan. 3 after video evidence refuted the claim.
‘On January 3, 2026, officers with the Mishawaka Police Department responded to a complaint of a battery that occurred at a high-school wrestling tournament hosted at Mishawaka High School involving Marcus Freeman,’ a statement from the St. Joseph County’s Prosecutor’s Office read. ‘The incident occurred at the exit doors to the gymnasium and was captured on video surveillance. Numerous witnesses were interviewed by police. That investigation was thereafter tendered to this office.
‘After reviewing the Mishawaka Police Department’s investigation into this incident, the Prosecutor’s Office has determined that no criminal battery occurred. As such, no criminal charges will be filed against Mr. Freeman.’
The Prosecutor’s Office also issued a statement Jan. 12 offering context on the situation. Freeman and Fleeger were both at the Al Smith Wrestling Invitational, where Freeman’s son, Vinny, was competing. Vinny lost a match before being escorted out of the gym by Freeman and Penn High School coach Brad Harper. It was then Fleeger began allegedly exchanging words with the group.
Fleeger claimed there was physical contact between he and Freeman as Freeman walked through a doorway into a nearby hallway. The South Bend Tribune, which was covering the event, said they didn’t see the altercation, but later saw Freeman’s wife, Joanna Freeman, trading shouts with Fleeger.
‘The Complainant, an assistant wrestling coach at a local high school, advised responding officers that he was approached by a person who said something he could not recall,’ the statement read. ‘The Complainant stated that the person then gave him a ‘two-handed push.’ He further stated that he had ‘no clue’ what motivated the push.
‘The Complainant stated that he learned from someone else that the person who shoved him was Marcus Freeman. Mr. Freeman had left the high school before officers were able to speak with him.’
Two acquaintances of Fleeger said that Freeman put his hands on him, but video evidence denied the accusation, according to the South Bend Tribune. The surveillance footage can be seen here:
‘The video does not support the claim that Mr. Freeman gave the Complainant a ‘two handed push’ nor that the Complainant stumbled backwards after the incident as originally alleged by the Complainant and his acquaintances,’ the news release read.
Freeman has a 43-12 record in four full seasons as Notre Dame’s head coach. He led the Fighting Irish to a 10-2 regular-season finish this season, narrowly missing out on a College Football Playoff bid.
Notre Dame released a statement on the matter Jan. 11, noting Freeman was ‘verbally accosted’ by a local wrestling coach, likely referring to Fleeger.
‘Vinny Freeman, head coach Marcus Freeman’s son, was verbally accosted during and after his wrestling match by a local wrestling coach,’ the statement read Jan. 11. ‘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.’
