College football has seen its fair share of coaching changes and developments over the years. One such significant event is the agreement reached by Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman to a long-term extension. This move is set to make him one of the highest-paid coaches in the country. A Notre Dame official confirmed the news to ESPN on Sunday. According to a source, it is a four-year extension that secures him for six more years in South Bend. Freeman had two years remaining on his current deal.

Freeman's Gratitude and the Program's Investment

In a prepared statement, Freeman expressed his gratitude. He said, "I am grateful for the support of the Board of Trustees, led by John Veihmeyer, President Fr. Bob Dowd, C.S.C., and Director of Athletics Pete Bevacqua. The investment they continue to pour into our program is invaluable to our student-athletes and staff. This commitment goes well beyond myself, as they are dedicated to ensuring all aspects of our program are competitive within the upper echelon of college football."

Freeman's Season with Notre Dame

In his third season with Notre Dame, Freeman led the No. 7 Irish to an 11-1 record and a first-round College Football Playoff game against No. 10 Indiana at home on Friday. He rallied the Irish to 10 straight wins following their stunning Sept. 7 home loss to Northern Illinois. Freeman holds a 30-9 record in his career with the program. It's the third time Notre Dame has qualified for the CFP (2018, 2020), but the first under Freeman. The winner will face No. 2 Georgia on Jan. 1 in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

Freeman's Career Journey to Notre Dame

Prior to joining Notre Dame, Freeman spent four seasons as the defensive coordinator at Cincinnati. His transition to head coach in 2021 after Brian Kelly left to become LSU's head coach was a significant one. In 2022, his first season as a head coach, the Irish finished 9-4 with a win against South Carolina in the Gator Bowl. Last year, Notre Dame finished 10-3 with a win against Oregon State in the Tony The Tiger Sun Bowl. He became the third Notre Dame head coach to post a 10-win season in each of his first two years with the program.