(Photo: Chad Ryan)
Rockne and Leahy defined it.
Ara expanded it.
And Lou Holtz—laid to rest this week in Cedar Grove Cemetery—lived it in a way that earned him a statue, a stadium gate, and a permanent place in Notre Dame lore.
Yes, all of those men were winners on the field.
But at Notre Dame, being the head football coach has always meant more than winning games.
It means leadership.
It means example.
It means fully embracing what it is to be a Notre Dame man.
And in an era of college football where it increasingly feels like winning is the only thing that matters—
Marcus Freeman arrived.
And yesterday, in a prelude to the opening of spring practice, Freeman gave a glimpse into why.
Why his players respect—and love—him.
Why coaches leave other major programs to join his staff.
Why blue-chip recruits choose Notre Dame for more than just NIL.
And why a demanding fan base has embraced him…
even if he hasn’t yet “won it all.”
On the doors of the iconic Basilica of the Sacred Heart, visitors are greeted with four words:
“God, Country, Notre Dame.”
Freeman was asked about that precept.
His answer told you just about everything you need to know about the man—and what has come to define him.
What followed was telling.
Freeman didn’t treat “God, Country, Notre Dame” as a slogan.
He defined it.
“It starts with God,” he said, pointing first to his faith and “understanding how blessed I am and why I’m here.” He moved to country—not politics, but appreciation—“just gratitude to be a part of this country and this world.”
And when he got to Notre Dame, the message became unmistakable.
“For me… I think of gratitude,” he said. “I think of what Notre Dame represents… this place can change your life if you let it.”
He didn’t say it once.
He kept coming back to it.
“I have gratitude to be a part of this place… a place that can impact so many for good… I’m grateful.”
That word kept showing up.
Gratitude.
Not entitlement.
Not expectation.
Gratitude.
That perspective didn’t come from nowhere.
Earlier in the week, the Notre Dame family gathered to celebrate the life of Lou Holtz.
And again, Freeman didn’t just attend.
He absorbed it.
Sitting in the Basilica, he spoke of the moment when it hit him—“to realize the impact that that one person had on everybody… wow.”
Then he put words to something that has long defined Notre Dame leadership.
“Leadership is influence,” Freeman said. “And the greatest evaluation of a leader is how you lead during tough times.”
That wasn’t theory.
That was experience.
“Every Sunday after a loss, I knew his (Lou’s) call was coming,” Freeman said. “Whatever he said in that moment is what I needed to hear.”
That’s not just coaching.
That’s Notre Dame.
And it doesn’t stop there.
Freeman made it clear that his own development as a leader is ongoing. He spoke about being intentional with his time—seeking out other coaches, other leaders, even outside of football. Whether it’s sitting courtside at basketball games or connecting with coaches while on the road recruiting, those moments are not casual.
They are purposeful.
“Give me your secret sauce,” he said. “Why are you in this situation? What have you learned?”
He described himself as a “sponge,” taking notes, listening, searching for ways to improve—not just himself, but everyone around him.
That’s not accidental.
That’s deliberate.
Marcus Freeman has posted a winning percentage approaching .800 through his first four full seasons at the helm. In the modern era, that places him firmly among the program’s elite—trailing only Ara Parseghian’s remarkable start, while comparing favorably with Lou Holtz, Dan Devine, and Brian Kelly at similar stages of their careers.
Impressive.
But at Notre Dame, numbers alone don’t define greatness.
It’s what exists beyond the wins.
And based on what he showed this week—his understanding of “God, Country, Notre Dame,” his reverence for those who came before him, and his commitment to continual growth—Marcus Freeman is on the path to joining that exclusive group of all-time great Notre Dame coaches.
And more importantly—
he sounds like one already.