Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman Celebrated Bowl Win With His Entire Family

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

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

Marcus and Joanna got married in 2010 after meeting during their time at The Ohio State University. Together, they share six children: son Vinny, 17, daughter Siena, 12, son Gino, 11, son Nico, 9, daughter Capri, 7, and son Rocco, 6.

With Notre Dame’s victory, 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. 

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

Shortly after his hiring, Joanna candidly admitted that their relationship hasn’t exactly been the stuff of fairy tales.

Marcus Freeman celebrating the win with his family ❤️ pic.twitter.com/4Q5JQFiUqv

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 3, 2025

“We don’t have a super romantic love story,” Joanna told Yahoo Sports in 2021. “We had a lot of breakups and make-ups. We fell hard. We fell fast. We were really young when we met, and in a lot of ways, we really grew and matured into adults together.”

After Thursday’s game, Freeman was asked about the historical significance of the victory. Prior to this season, a Black coach had never coached a game in the College Football Playoff. Along with Penn State head coach James Franklin, there are two Black coaches in this year’s semifinals. 

“You’re very grateful,” Freeman said. “It’s a reminder that you are a representation for many others and many of our players that look the same way I do. Your color shouldn’t matter. The evidence of your work should.”

He continued, “But it takes everybody. That’s what I continue to remind myself. When people will try to point the finger at you, it’s a great reminder [that] you’re not in this position without everybody, without all these guys. And that’s what I told them in the locker room.”

Freeman explained that he felt awkward at the postgame trophy ceremony, insisting that the spotlight shouldn’t be shone on him alone. 

“I couldn’t get off that stage fast enough because everybody couldn’t be up there,” he told reporters. “It’s about the team. It’s about everybody who puts everything they have into making sure that 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 we’re not in this position unless everybody in this program gets their job done.”