Marcus Freeman and His Son Had Recruiting Meeting with Univ. of Michigan

Courtesy of Vinny Freeman/X

Despite coaching at Notre Dame after a celebrated playing career at Ohio State, Marcus Freeman might be sending his son, Vinny, off to a major rival.

Marcus, 39, and Vinny, 17, welcomed University of Michigan wrestling head coach Sean Bormet into the Freeman residence for a visit on Monday, February 3. 

“Great home visit with Coach @Sean_Bormet,” Vinny shared via X. “Thanks for stopping by @umichwrestling.”

Vinny posed with Coach Bormet and Freeman, who recently guided Notre Dame to the College Football Playoff National Championship, in the foyer of the family’s Indiana house.

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A junior at Penn High School in Mishawaka, Indiana, Vinny is an accomplished high school wrestler. He is currently ranked 7th in the state in the 175-pound weight class. He is also a safety on the school’s football team. 

Of course, some fans couldn’t help but express their displeasure about seeing Vinny and his dad chumming it up with the University of Michigan. 

Courtesy of Coach Marcus Freeman/Instagram

“That’s not the sweatshirt I was hoping to see,” one person commented on Vinny’s post. Another wrote, “Well that’s awkward .”

For the record, Notre Dame does not have a ]’/Division 1 wrestling program, so sticking in South Bend is not an option for Vinny. 

Michigan is currently ranked No. 19 in the country in the latest coaches poll. Prior to meeting with the Wolverines, Vinny took a visit with his mother, Joanna Freeman, to Cornell University in August 2024. Cornell is currently ranked No. 9 in the country. 

Marcus and Joanna, who got married in 2010, share six children: Vinny, daughter Siena, 12, son Gino, 11, son Nico, 9, daughter Capri, 7, and son Rocco, 6. Marcus also has a daughter named Bria, 18, from a previous relationship. 

Prior to the state finals in February 2024, Vinny told the South Bend Tribune about his passion for the sport of wrestling. 

“There’s nothing better than walking into that arena, seeing the lights,” Vinny said of competing at state. “It shows how much work you’ve put in and how much time and dedication that you put to this sport. It’s a great reward.”

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When Vinny was in 7th grade, he began training at MXW, a year-round wrestling training facility in Mishawaka led by Chad Harper, the brother of Penn head coach, Brad Harper, according to the Tribune.

When Marcus was hired as Notre Dame’s head coach while Vinny was in 8th grade, Vinny recalled getting a little extra attention from the other wrestlers at the facility. 

“Those first couple of weeks were kind of crazy,” Vinny said. “Everybody was looking at me like somebody I wasn’t, but people forget I’m still normal. It definitely took a little time to die down, but a good thing that helped bring all that pressure down was getting to know people.”

Vinny added, “The more you get to know people, the more they get to see you as not just a coach’s son, but a person.”