Marcus Freeman, former assistant coach to Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell, and the Notre Dame fighting the Irish on Thursday, he advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinals with a Sugar Bowl victory 23-10 on Georgia.
Freeman was Fickell’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Cincinnati from 2017 to 2020. He leaves for the same position at Notre Dame in 2021 before being promoted to head coach in 2022.
Related: Updated conference records for the 2024-25 College Football Playoff
The growing head coach is now 32-9 after nearly three years at the helm of Notre Dame. His team is 13-1 in 2024 after winning against Georgia, with the only loss coming at home against Northern Illinois in Week 2.
Freeman first hit his stride as an assistant under Fickell. In just his second year at the position, he led the Bearcats’ defense to top marks in the AAC, continuing that position for the remainder of his tenure with the team. He was also a finalist for the Broyles Award (best assistant coach in the country) in 2020 before leaving for Notre Dame.
Fickell, a former defensive coach, continued the success of the Freeman era into 2021, leading Cincinnati to a 13-1 record and a College Football Playoff appearance. He then went 9-4 in 2022 before leaving for the Wisconsin job.
Fickell is 12-13 over two years with the Badgers. He’s still looking to reclaim a streak in Cincinnati from 2018-21 that included a 44-7 record, two AAC championships and appearances in the Peach and Cotton Bowls.
Notre Dame, meanwhile, continues its national quest Thursday in the Capital One Orange Bowl (CFP semifinal) against State of Pennsylvania.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinions.
