Marcus Freeman wins 2024 Dodd Trophy

ATLANTA (December 31, 2024) – Officials of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and the Peach Bowl, Inc. announced today that Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has been named the winner of the 2024 Dodd Trophy, presented by PNC Bank.

The Dodd Trophy, college football’s most coveted coaching award, honors the head football coach whose program embodies the award’s three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity while achieving success on the field throughout the season. Winners of the award from the previous two years and first-year coaches at an institution are not eligible to win the award.

Freeman has led the Irish to a 12-1 record so far this season and a No. 5 College Football Playoff ranking along with a no. 3 ranking in the Associated Press and Coaches Polls. Under Freeman’s leadership, the Irish secured five wins over opponents ranked in the AP Poll at the time of the game this season, including the No. 20 Texas A&M, no. 15 Louisville, no. 24 Navy, no. 18 Army and no. 9 Indiana.

Notre Dame finished the regular season as one of the most balanced teams in the country, leading the nation in efficiency defense (94.10), turnovers scored (28) and in defensive touchdowns (6). The Irish also ranked among the top teams nationally in several other categories this season, including: second in turnover margin (1.33), third in scoring defense (13.6), fourth in scoring offense (39.8) and 10th in total defense (296.8), among others.

Now in his third season in South Bend, Freeman owns a 31-9 record, including 12 wins over ranked opponents, more than any other Irish head coach in program history over his first three seasons. Freeman becomes the second Notre Dame head coach to win The Dodd Trophy, joining Brian Kelly who won the award in 2018.

“Being named the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Year is very humbling as Coach Dodd is such a legend in our sport,” said Notre Dame Head Coach Marcus Freeman. “I accept this award on behalf of our entire program as it is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our players, coaches and support staff. At Notre Dame, we emphasize some of the same pillars that Coach Dodd did: Scholarship , Leadership and Integrity I am proud of the way the men and women of our program embody these values.”

“Coach Freeman has been on our radar all season as he was on our preseason and midseason watch lists,” Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation President Jim Terry said. “It is evident both on and off the field that he has an unwavering commitment to Notre Dame and his student-athletes. Coach Freeman embodies everything this award stands for with his dedication to scholarship, leadership and integrity, so it is truly an honor to name him this year’s recipient of the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Year.”

Off the field, Notre Dame has excelled in the classroom under Freeman’s leadership. The Fighting Irish were one of seven institutions to win the AFCA 2024 Academic Achievement Award, which honors programs with the highest graduation rate for members of the 2017 freshman football student-athlete class. Freeman’s group also posted a perfect academic progress rate of 1000, which is tied for the highest mark in the FBS, and had an impressive graduation success rate of 94.

In the community, Freeman and the Irish have partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Michiana to provide meals every Friday before home games to families whose children receive care at Beacon Children’s Hospital. Freeman was also integral to the revival of the “Cleats for a Cause” initiative, which centers around several of his players representing five local charities on special edition Under Armor Slip Speed ​​cleats, which are then auctioned off for to raise money for these charities.

Freeman has also participated in numerous other charitable engagements, including visits to local schools such as St. Adalbert Catholic School in South Bend, where he surprised students with tickets to the spring football game and spoke at philanthropic events, such as Erin’s House for Grieving Children, which supports families who have experienced a death.

For all of his work in the community, Freeman was honored at the beginning of the season by being the only head coach named to the 2024 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.

“What sets The Dodd Trophy apart from other coaching awards is how the award focuses not only on what success a coach achieves on the field, but also how he impacts lives off it,” said Gary Stokan, CEO and President of the Peach Bowl. Inc. “Coach Freeman’s high graduation rate, commitment to academic excellence and emphasis on the importance of community involvement during his time at Notre Dame are emblematic of what Coach Dodd believed in. We are honored to recognize and celebrate all that he has accomplished this year and thus making him the winner of the Dodd Trophy.

“PNC Bank is proud to join the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and the Peach Bowl, Inc. in recognizing Coach Freeman with this prestigious award,” said Samantha Jones, PNC Regional President for Greater Georgia. “The Dodd Trophy embodies the highest standards of leadership and achievement both on and off the field, and we are honored to celebrate Coach Freeman along with all the coaches who inspire the next generation of student-athletes to excel in the game and in life . “

Five of the nation’s top head coaches (Shane Beamer, Kenny Dillingham, Marcus Freeman, Dan Lanning and Jeff Monken) were named finalists for this year’s award by a panel consisting of all previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Coach Freeman was then selected as this year’s recipient of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation.