Marcus Freeman shares final conversation with Brian Kelly

Now that Marcus Freeman has been formally named the head coach at Notre Dame, he can start piecing together what occurred during one of the craziest weeks in the history of the program. 

Following former head coach Brian Kelly’s resignation and move to LSU last Monday, Notre Dame football — a model of consistency in college football over the last few years — was sent into a tailspin. The issues have since been resolved, as Freeman was formally named the head coach on Friday and had an introductory press conference on Monday.

On Monday, the 30th head coach in Notre Dame history joined “The Dan Patrick Show” to detail the rollercoaster week, including providing information on his recent conversations with his former boss.

First, Freeman confirmed that Kelly asked him to go to LSU with him. Next, he provided the words that came out of his mouth when the offer was made.

“I need a job, so I said ‘Yeah, let me talk to my wife,’” Freeman said with a smile. “That’s the first thing I said… That gave me time to kind of figure this whole thing out, and it all happened extremely fast after that.”

Freeman said he knew he would be the head coach two days before the announcement was made, but everything, understandably, runs together in his mind.

“When I started to get calls from our athletic director, and I started to get text messages and people reaching out that are highly regarded around Notre Dame, I realized this might be pretty real,” Freeman added. “So I put the halt on going anywhere and said let’s see what happens here at Notre Dame.”

Freeman added some additional detail to his relationship with the now-LSU head coach, saying the last time they talked on the phone was Monday, Nov. 29. Kelly texted him a congratulatory message after he was named the Irish head coach.

Freeman, Kelly head west for first games

Both coaches will take their programs west to conclude the 2021 season. Notre Dame will face Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl in Arizona, while the Tigers head to Houston to take on Kansas State in the Texas Bowl.

Freeman will look to do something no Irish head coach has accomplished since Lou Holtz: win a major bowl game. Notre Dame’s last victory in one of the nation’s top postseason matchups came in 1993, a 28-3 victory over Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl.

“I can’t tell you how excited I am as the head coach of this football program and the football as we go to take on Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl,” Freeman said. “It’s a great opportunity to win 12 games and right some of the wrongs of the past, that we haven’t been so successful in these New Year’s Day bowls.”