The Notre Dame football program has made it clear that it’s not afraid to spend money in order to keep improving. However, as it turns out, the one man the program has been spending an impressive amount of money on is the head coach.
Marcus Freeman, who got a new contract late in the 2024 season still isn’t getting the kind of salary that some of the best coaches in the sport are getting. That’s why Freeman is considered one of the “coaching bargains” by On3.
The website recently out a list of the Top 10 best bargains when it comes to head coaches and the Notre Dame football head man is right in the middle of the list. The site has Freeman ranked 6th on the list thanks to his salary of $6.6 million
Notre Dame football coach is among the best bargains
On3 has Freeman in a list with Boise State’s Spencer Danielson ($1.1 million), SMU’s Rhett Lashlee ($2.3 million), Indiana’s Curt Cignetti ($4.2 million), Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham ($3.9 million), Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea ($3.1 million) Iowa State’s Matt Campbell ($4 million) UNLV’s Barry Odom ($1.75 million) Memphis’ Ryan Silverfield ($2.2 million), and Syracuse’s Fran Brown ($4 million).
“After failing to crack the College Football Playoff in his first two seasons at Notre Dame, Marcus Freeman broke through in 2024. Ranked as the No. 5 seed in the inaugural 12-team CFP, the Fighting Irish ran through the playoff, notching wins over Indiana, Georgia and Penn State to land a bid in the national title game for the first time since 2012. Ohio State would go on to win, but Freeman established himself as one of the top coaches in the sport last season.”
If Notre Dame football has the same kind of 2025 as it did 2024, it’s a safe bet that Marcus Freeman isn’t going to be quite as good a steal as he’ll be getting another raise.