Notre Dame has denied that Marcus Freeman had physical contact with anyone after the football coach was accused of battery in a police report filed Jan. 3 following an incident at his son’s high school wrestling match.
No charges are expected against Freeman, university sources told ESPN on Sunday.
According to the South Bend Tribune, which first reported the news, the alleged incident involved Freeman and New Prairie High School assistant wrestling coach Chris Fleeger. Freeman and his family were at the Al Smith Wrestling Invitational to support his son, Vinny, a senior who is headed to Cornell.
Fleeger filed a police report last week accusing Freeman of battery.
“Vinny Freeman, the son of head coach Marcus Freeman, was verbally accosted during and after his wrestling match by a local wrestling coach,” Notre Dame said in a statement released Sunday. “Marcus and Joanna Freeman intervened and removed Vinny from the situation. At no time did Coach Freeman make physical contact with anyone. We believe the police report, which includes video evidence, fully exonerates Coach Freeman and clearly shows that these accusations are completely unfounded.”
Mishawaka Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Steven Headley did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ESPN. According to the South Bend Tribune, Mishawaka police investigated and submitted their report to the district attorney’s office to determine whether charges would be filed.
According to the Tribune, the incident occurred after Vinny Freeman lost his match and was escorted out of the gymnasium by his father and Penn High School coach, Brad Harper. That’s when Fleeger allegedly began “exchanging words” with the group, according to the newspaper.
Once in the hallway, Fleeger and Freeman’s wife, Joanna, were yelling at each other before local law enforcement and Mishawaka school officials separated the two groups, according to the Tribune.
Freeman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
