The Notre Dame athletic department said in a statement Sunday that battery allegations against football coach Marcus Freeman stemming from his son’s high school wrestling event are “totally unfounded.”

The South Bend Tribune reported Sunday that New Prairie High wrestling assistant coach Chris Fleeger filed a police report with a Mishawaka police officer at the Al Smith Wrestling Invitational, accusing Freeman of battery.

The Chicago Tribune confirmed an ESPN report that university sources do not expect charges stemming from the Jan. 3 incident to be filed against Freeman.

The South Bend Tribune reported that Fleeger exchanged words with Freeman, his son Vinny and Penn High head coach Brad Harper after Vinny’s match at the event. Fleeger claimed there was physical contact as Freeman exited into a hallway, according to the newspaper.

Vinny, a senior at Penn, has signed to wrestle at Cornell. He was not wrestling a New Prairie athlete at the time of the incident.

Notre Dame said in its statement that a coach had been harassing Vinny at the event and that video evidence shows Freeman did not assault anyone.

“Vinny Freeman, head coach Marcus Freeman’s son, was verbally accosted during and after his wrestling match by a local wrestling coach,” Notre Dame said in a statement. “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 totally unfounded.”

ESPN reported the Mishawaka police department handed its report to the St. Joseph County prosecutor’s office to determine whether charges will be filed.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/11/notre-dame-marcus-freeman-allegations/