Notre Dame has found itself in a beautiful spot this week, like head coach Brian Kelly leaves LSU . job, the second shocking poaching in college football this week – USC moved Lincoln Riley out of Oklahoma on Sunday.
After that, there was a lot of speculation about whether the Irish would be looking for a replacement. Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell, a Midwestern Catholic, has long been suspected of being a top target for Notre Dame whenever Brian Kelly leaves, but with his Bearcats on the cusp of becoming the Group Five teams held hands for the College Rugby Round, and the Irishman’s timing couldn’t have been much worse. Iowa State’s Matt Campbell is another well-known Catholic coach in the Midwest that many think will be of interest, but with the Cyclones falling a bit short of expectations this season, likewise, time time is not on his side.
Defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman is the other expected front-runner, as Notre Dame may look to push from within in an attempt to continue what has been achieved in recent years. Freeman has been considered one of the fastest celebrities in college football in terms of assistants to watch head coach openings, with Kelly even saying earlier in the year that he would become head coach. head coach sooner rather than later. On Wednesday night, more reports began to emerge that Freeman was indeed the chosen one.
I can now confirm through multiple sources that Marcus Freeman will become the next University of Notre Dame Head Coach.
All eyes are now on Tommy Rees, who is deciding between LSU and Notre Dame. #PayTommyRees
– Mick Assaf (@mickassaf) December 1, 2021
Notre Dame DC Marcus Freeman is expected to become the next head coach at the ND, according to the source. This move was first reported by @mickassaf.
– Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 2, 2021
Along with Freeman’s appointment as head coach, offensive coordinator Tommy Rees will also be sticking with South Bend despite a big offer from LSU to join Kelly in Baton Rouge, as he has told. team on Wednesday night.
Sticking with Rees is clearly part of what needs to happen for Freeman to become head coach, as the Irishman clearly wants to keep the position as much as possible after five consecutive 10-win seasons.
Sources this week indicated to The Athletic that Notre Dame retaining Tommy Rees as offensive coordinator would be crucial to promoting Marcus Freeman to head coach. Box one has been checked, each @Matt_Fortuna
– Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) December 2, 2021
With Freeman being promoted and Rees staying on, there will be less than one major head coach opening, but two senior coordinator jobs will still be filled within LSU, where they’ll be looking to pay the money. large to guide their offensive and defensive behavior.
https://uproxx.com/sports/notre-dame-marcus-freeman-head-coach-promote-tommy-rees/ Notre Dame will appoint Marcus Freeman as head coach
