Notre Dame’s been on a tear this year, racking up 13 wins and capping it off with a ‘sweet’ 23-10 victory over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl game. Coach Marcus Freeman has been a total boss on the sidelines. But let’s be real, the HC wouldn’t be where he is without his amazing family.

At 38, Freeman is not only crushing it on the field but also off it. It’s like a real-life Hallmark movie—his wife and kids are always there, cheering him on and bringing that positive energy. They’re his rock, his biggest fans, and they fuel his fire both on and off the field. And Freeman is showing the world that you can achieve greatness when you have amazing people in your corner. And let’s face it, his wife is the real MVP here!

The Notre Dame HC and his wife Joanna have a love story straight out of an Ohio State fairytale. They met way back when he was a star linebacker for the Buckeyes, and they’ve been together ever since. They even tied the knot while he was a grad assistant at his alma mater! Fast forward, and now he’s balancing game plans with dad life, raising a squad of six kids with Joanna. Just talk about leveling up in both football and family!

Joanna Freeman was formerly a star reporter at WBNS-Channel 10 in Columbus but now enjoys the busy life of raising six children. From Vinny, 17, to little Rocco, 6, their family is a bustling team, and just to make sure they are all given proper attention, Joanna left her career. That’s quite a bold move. However, not to forget Bria, Marcus’ 18-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, completing their all-star lineup.

The inspiring combination of Joanna’s role as a full-time mother and Marcus’s legendary coaching makes their house a place of teamwork and boundless love. But it was not all vanilla. Despite the challenges, Joanna has been a steadfast source of support for Marcus Freeman throughout his whole football journey, from player to coach. Even she has admitted it wasn’t always easy—“We don’t have a super romantic love story. 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.” 

Well, that’s exactly how a relationship goes through different stages. Some filled with love and some with challenges. However, this never broke them apart and made them even stronger. Their children are the perfect reflection of their love.

Marcus Freeman and his kids’ adorable bond

Let’s just be real: raising six kids with such a stressful career is not an easy task. Marcus Freeman, however, has a knack for being fully present in both his roles. He is not only a coaching wizard who took his team to the playoffs but also a great dad who makes sure his kids feel loved and valued.

Now, coming to Coach Marcus’ kids’ personal lives and aspirations, we have Vinny, his son, who’s 17 years old and is walking in his pops’ sporty footsteps. Vinny is a junior at Penn High School and plays as a safety for the football team, but that’s not all. He is also an accomplished wrestler. Excellence is just in his genes!

Marcus Freeman’s second kid, Siena, who is 12 years old, is a total daddy’s girl and has been repping him hard since his Cincinnati Bearcats days (2017-2020). She’s often spotted chilling with her lil sis, Capri, holding her, making big-sis vibes look easy. But wait, the football bug runs deep in the family.

Marcus’s 11-year-old son, Gino, is all about the game too! The HC loves sharing snaps of Vinny and Gino rocking helmets and posing like champs on his IG. Oh, and it’s not just football; Coach Freeman and Gino hit up a Cincinnati Reds game in 2019. The family squad is on point!

Moreover, Marcus Freeman’s kids and the Bearcats go way back. For instance, take Nicolo’s 4th birthday: The lil guy celebrated with head coach Luke Fickell—no big deal, right? Well, it doesn’t seem like one. Fast forward to Capri and Rocco, the dynamic duo just a year apart, stealing all the “daddy’s favorite” points like pros. Whether it’s cheering at Notre Dame games or just being the ultimate hype team, this family doesn’t just support; they bring the whole vibe.