This story has been updated with a statement from Notre Dame athletics.
Notre Dame Athletics is denying any physical contact occurred between football coach Marcus Freeman and a New Prairie High School wrestling coach.
On Sunday, Jan. 11, the South Bend Tribune confirmed through Mishawaka Police Department spokesman Sgt. Steven Headley that a police report had been filed against Freeman stemming from an incident that took place Jan. 3 at Mishawaka High School.
“Vinny Freeman, head coach Marcus Freeman’s son, was verbally accosted during and after his wrestling match by a local wrestling coach,” Notre Dame’s statement read. “Marcus and Joanna Freeman intervened and removed Vinny from the situation. At no point did coach Freeman physically engage with anyone. We believe that the police report, which includes video evidence, fully exonerates coach Freeman and makes clear these accusations are unfounded.”
The alleged incident involved Freeman and a New Prairie high school wrestling assistant coach, Chris Fleeger. Both were at the Al Smith Wrestling Invitational, with Freeman there to support his son, Vinny, a Penn High School senior, and Fleeger in a coaching capacity with the Cougars.
Fleeger filed a police report last week accusing Freeman of battery. Mishawaka police investigated and turned over the completed report to the prosecutor’s office to determine if any charges will be filed. It is unknown how long that charging decision will take and if any charges will be filed at all.
The altercation allegedly took place after Vinny Freeman’s match against Hanover Central senior Israel Sinnott, which Vinny lost. As Vinny was escorted off the mat and out of the gym by Marcus and Penn head coach Brad Harper, Fleeger allegedly began exchanging words with the group.
As Marcus Freeman walked through the doorway into the hallway, physical contact allegedly occurred between Marcus Freeman and Fleeger, but police did not disclose the extent of the alleged contact. Once in the hallway, Fleeger and Marcus Freeman’s wife, Joanna, engaged in a shouting match before local law enforcement and Mishawaka school officials separated the two groups.
While the Freeman family was not officially asked to leave, they did so. Of the 112 athletes that reached the podium across the 14 weight classes, Vinny Freeman was one of just two not present.
This story is developing.
