Marcus Freeman’s Wife Joanna Freeman Gets Candid on Notre Dame Coach
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman and wife Joanna Freeman are known for their emphasis on family, even as the Fighting Irish’s success on the field has led to a brighter spotlight in recent years. The couple are the proud parents of six kids: Vinny (17), Siena (12), Gino (11), Nico (9), Capri (7) and Rocco (6).
Additionally, Marcus has a daughter named Bria (18) from a previous relationship. Despite the big family, Joanna admitted the couple has had their ups and downs.
During a December 2021, interview with Pete Thamel for Yahoo Sports, Joanna opened up about the couple’s struggles that occurred early in their relationship.
“We don’t have a super romantic love story,” Joanna said at the time. “We had a lot of breakups and make-ups. We fell hard. We fell fast. We were really young when we met, and a lot of ways, we really grew and matured into adults together.”
Here’s what you need to know about the Notre Dame coach, his wife and family.
Marcus Freeman on Attention as Notre Dame Head Coach: ‘I Just Got to Try to Keep My Wife Happy’
Aside from Notre Dame’s success on the field, Marcus has also drawn the attention of fans. During an August 26, 2025, interview on “The Pivot” podcast, Marcus was asked for his reaction about being noticed for his looks.
“Man, I tell you what, yeah, I try to stay away from that as much as I can, you know what I mean?” Marcus responded. “There ain’t gonna be a good answer for this question.
“I’ll tell you what, I just got to try to keep my wife happy. That’s it. I’m just trying to keep my wife happy, man, and I let people say whatever they want to say, you know what I mean?”
Marcus Freeman Described Wife Joanna Freeman as an ‘Italian Pistol’
Happy Mother’s Day to all of the amazing Moms out there, today we celebrate you! I’m especially grateful for these two special women—my wife, Joanna, and my Mom! pic.twitter.com/Q1MwhGOBst — Marcus Freeman (@Marcus_Freeman1) May 14, 2023
The couple originally met when Marcus was a standout player at Ohio State. Joanna and Marcus were living at the same apartment complex in Columbus, per Yahoo Sports.
“She has the most pure heart,” Marcus told Yahoo Sports in 2021. “She’s loyal to her family and people that she loves. It hasn’t always been easy. At times, I can take her for granted. She’s an Italian pistol.
“If I’m a jerk, she’s going to be ready to fire back. But she’s so loyal. There’s no one else I’d rather do life with than her.”
Joanna Freeman on Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman: ‘(He) Truly Wants (the) Best for the People Around Him’
Marcus Freeman is ONE OF THE BEST LEADERS IN ALL OF FOOTBALL RIGHT NOW. But he knows he wouldn’t be able to do what he does without his Wife, Joanna. “To do what I do, you have to have the most unselfish Wife in the world.” –@Marcus_Freeman1 @NDFootball pic.twitter.com/B2MYWsfjVS — Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 3, 2025
Joanna has been with Marcus since he transitioned from playing to coaching, which has led to stints at multiple universities. Being the face of one of the most historic college football programs in the country has its challenges, including Marcus frequently being away from the family.
“If I thought as his wife, his heart wasn’t in the right place, it’d be hard for me to deal with the absence of him,” Joanna added. “But I know he’s making a positive impact, he wants to make people better and truly wants (the) best for the people around him.”
