Grace Thompson
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football coach Marcus Freeman converted to Catholicism in 2022, less than a year after becoming the head football coach at the university in December 2021. Freeman, who was raised in the Christian and Korean church traditions, called his conversion a family decision and a personal decision. His wife, Joanna, and their six children were already practising Catholics.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Marcus Freeman |
| Profession | Head football coach at the University of Notre Dame |
| Date of conversion to Catholicism | Less than a year after becoming head coach at Notre Dame in December 2021, i.e., by September 2022 |
| Age at the time of conversion | 39 years |
| Family | Wife, Joanna Freeman, and six children (son Vinny, daughter Siena, son Gino, son Nico, daughter Capri, and son Rocco) |
| Previous religion | Raised in Christian and Korean church traditions |
| Reason for conversion | A "family decision and personal decision"; Freeman also wanted to incorporate religion into pre-game rituals at Notre Dame |
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What You'll Learn
Marcus Freeman's religious background
Marcus Freeman is an American football coach and former linebacker. He is the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, a position he has held since December 2021. Freeman was born on 10 January 1986 at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio. His mother, Chong, is from South Korea, and his father, Michael, is African-American. Freeman attended Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio, and played college football at Ohio State University.
Freeman was raised in the Christian and Korean church traditions. However, in September 2022, less than a year after becoming the head football coach at Notre Dame, he decided to convert to Catholicism. He described his conversion as "a family decision and a personal decision". His wife, Joanna, and their six children were already practising Catholics.
Freeman's conversion was first announced in the bulletin of his church, Saint Pius X Catholic Church in Granger, Indiana. The bulletin welcomed Freeman to the Catholic Church, stating that he had recently been received into the faith during a Mass celebrated by Father Bill. Freeman had prepared for this moment with Father Nate Wills, the chaplain of the Notre Dame football team, and had made a profession of faith, been confirmed, and received his First Holy Communion.
As a Catholic, Freeman has reinstated the tradition of pre-game Mass for the Notre Dame football team, which had not been practised in 11 years. He believes that attending Mass is important for bringing the team together and fostering a sense of calm before games. It also allows players and staff to embrace Jesus Christ and reflect on their faith.
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Freeman's reasons for converting to Catholicism
Marcus Freeman, the head football coach at the University of Notre Dame, converted to Catholicism in 2022. Freeman, who was raised in the Christian and Korean church traditions, made the decision to convert to Catholicism less than a year after becoming the head football coach at the university in December 2021. He called his conversion a "family decision and a personal decision," as his wife, Joanna Freeman, and their six children were already practicing Catholics.
Freeman's conversion was first announced in the bulletin of his church, Saint Pius X Catholic Church in Granger, Indiana. The bulletin read, "Welcome to our newest Catholic, Marcus Freeman," and it was obtained by the local Tribune. Freeman made a profession of faith, was confirmed, and received his First Holy Communion as part of the conversion process.
Freeman has cited several reasons for his conversion to Catholicism. One reason is his appreciation for Notre Dame's emphasis on faith. In an interview, he stated, "That's important for me. I want our guys to wonder about what it means to embrace Jesus Christ." Additionally, Freeman reinstated the tradition of pre-game Mass for the Notre Dame football team, which had been stopped by former coach Brian Kelly. Freeman believes that attending Mass together before games is a meaningful way to unite the team and bring them closer to God.
Freeman's decision to convert to Catholicism seems to be rooted in his personal faith journey and his desire to foster a sense of spiritual community within the Notre Dame football team. By converting, he joins his family in their Catholic faith and embraces the religious traditions of the university he now leads.
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Freeman's family and their influence on his conversion
Marcus Freeman, the current head football coach at the University of Notre Dame, grew up in a tight-knit family that played a pivotal role in his eventual conversion to Catholicism. Freeman was raised in a Christian household, but it was his marriage to Joanna, a Catholic, that set him on a path of spiritual exploration and, ultimately, led him to embrace the Catholic faith.
Freeman's father-in-law, a devout Catholic, became a source of spiritual guidance and inspiration for him. The two developed a close bond, often engaging in deep conversations about faith and spirituality. Through these exchanges, Freeman began to develop a deeper understanding of the Catholic beliefs and practices that fascinated him. The more he learned, the more he felt drawn to the Catholic Church and its traditions.
Joanna, Freeman's wife, also played a vital role in his spiritual journey. Raised in a Catholic family, she embodied the values and principles that Freeman was drawn to. Her faith and commitment to her religious upbringing left a profound impression on him. By witnessing her devotion and the positive impact it had on their family life, Freeman found himself wanting to explore and embrace the same beliefs.
In addition to his wife and father-in-law, Freeman was also influenced by the strong sense of community and family values that Catholicism promotes. As a father of five children, family life and creating a strong spiritual foundation for his kids became increasingly important to him. Catholicism's emphasis on community, ritual, and tradition resonated with Freeman, offering a sense of stability and belonging that he wanted for his own family.
The process of conversion was a gradual one for Freeman. He immersed himself in learning about the Catholic faith, attended Mass regularly, and sought guidance from priests and other spiritual mentors. This journey of faith culminated in his official conversion to Catholicism, which he announced publicly in 2022.
Freeman's family, through their example and influence, played a pivotal role in his spiritual transformation. Their support and the shared values they embodied created a solid foundation for Freeman's own exploration and eventual embrace of the Catholic faith. This journey not only enriched his personal life but also provided a solid spiritual grounding that continues to guide him in his role as a coach and a mentor to the young athletes he leads.
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Freeman's reinstatement of pre-game Mass at Notre Dame
Notre Dame's head football coach Marcus Freeman, who joined the university in December 2021, converted to Catholicism in 2022. Freeman, who was raised in the Christian and Korean church traditions, called his conversion "a family decision and a personal decision". His wife, Joanna Freeman, and their six children were already practising Catholics.
Before his conversion, Freeman reinstated the tradition of pre-game Mass for the Notre Dame football team for the first time in 11 years. He said that Mass would be "available" and "optional" and that no players had objected to it. Freeman also said that he wanted his players to be "calm before the storm" and that Mass would help them be "at peace and a little bit calm" before the game.
Freeman had been disappointed that the pre-game Mass was discontinued and wanted to bring it back. He said, "What better time is there to go have Mass? [...] What better time to be able to really be on the edge of your seat to get every word that comes out of the priest’s mouth and to be as close to God as you can?"
Freeman's decision was well-received. Notre Dame football player Kevin Bauman said, "I think that’s incredible. I’m really happy coach (Marcus) Freeman made that change." Former Notre Dame linebacker Wes Pritchett also said, "I didn’t realize that they had gotten rid of that. [...] That was one of the traditions we had when I was at Notre Dame that I thought was pretty special."
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The announcement of Freeman's conversion
In September 2022, less than a year after becoming the head football coach at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, in December 2021, Marcus Freeman, 39, announced his decision to convert to Catholicism. Freeman, who was raised in the Christian and Korean church traditions, described his conversion as "a family decision and a personal decision". His wife, Joanna Freeman, and their six children were already practising Catholics.
The development was first announced in the bulletin of Freeman's church, Saint Pius X Catholic Church in Granger, Indiana. "Welcome to our newest Catholic, Marcus Freeman," the bulletin read. It continued: "Bill recently concelebrated in a Mass where Marcus Freeman was received into the Catholic Church. After preparing with Nate Wills, C.S.C., chaplain of the Notre Dame football team, Marcus made a profession of faith, was confirmed, and received his First Holy Communion."
Freeman, who was born at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio, and previously served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Notre Dame in 2021, said he had tried to keep his conversion as private as possible. "Obviously, when you're head coach at Notre Dame, nothing is private," he said.
Before his conversion, Freeman reinstated the tradition of pre-game Mass for the Notre Dame football team for the first time in 11 years. "What better time is there to go have Mass?" he asked the National Catholic Register in August 2022. "What better time to be able to really be on the edge of your seat to get every word that comes out of the priest’s mouth and to be as close to God as you can? That’s important for me. I want our guys to wonder about what it means to embrace Jesus Christ."
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Frequently asked questions
Marcus Freeman converted to Catholicism in 2022, less than a year after becoming the head football coach at Notre Dame in December 2021.
Freeman was raised in the Christian and Korean church traditions. His mother, Chong, is from South Korea.
Freeman called his conversion to Catholicism "a family decision and a personal decision". His wife, Joanna, and their six children were already practising Catholics.
Freeman reinstated the tradition of pre-game Mass for the Notre Dame football team. He also made sure that all his players, regardless of their religion, attended Mass before games.
The reaction to Freeman's conversion has been positive. During a Q&A session in May 2024, he was asked how he manages the work-life balance given his busy family life and demanding job.
