South Bend, Ind. — May 19, 2025
As the 2025 college football season looms large, Notre Dame finds itself at a critical crossroads. With heightened expectations and national scrutiny
, current head coach Marcus Freeman is facing increased pressure to elevate the Fighting Irish back into the elite ranks of college football. Now, one of Notre Dame’s most well-known former head coaches is speaking out—offering both a reality check and a stark warning.
In a candid interview this week, the former coach—who requested anonymity but remains a respected figure within the Notre Dame coaching tree—did not hold back in his assessment of the program’s current trajectory under Freeman. While acknowledging Freeman’s strengths in recruiting and player development, the ex-coach expressed concerns about what he described as a “lack of urgency, inconsistent leadership, and failure to make hard but necessary decisions.”
“This program isn’t far from falling into a cycle of underachievement,” the coach said. “Marcus has the tools, but tools don’t matter if you don’t use them with purpose. Notre Dame doesn’t get the luxury of patience like other programs. Every season matters. Every decision matters.”
The comments come after Notre Dame finished the 2024 season with a disappointing 9–4 record, capped by a bowl loss that magnified lingering issues—offensive stagnation, inconsistent quarterback play, and questionable in-game management. While the recruiting classes remain strong and the talent pool deep, the results have not matched the potential.
“Notre Dame’s standard isn’t just winning 9 or 10 games,” the coach continued. “It’s competing for national championships. When that stops being the standard, the slide begins.”
The remarks have already generated buzz in college football circles, particularly given Freeman’s relatively short tenure and youth among Power Five head coaches. Entering just his fourth season at the helm, Freeman has become known for his player-first approach and energetic culture, but critics argue that emotional leadership must now be paired with strategic sharpness and bold decision-making.
The former coach emphasized three key areas Freeman must address heading into the 2025 campaign:
1. Urgency in Preparation:
“Everything starts in the offseason,” the coach said. “You can’t go into a season still trying to figure out who you are. That’s not leadership—that’s uncertainty. By August, every player, every coach, should know the identity of this team.”
2. Tough Personnel Choices:
The ex-coach pointed to Freeman’s reluctance to make difficult staffing decisions, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, as a potential weakness. “Loyalty is great, but when it clouds judgment, it becomes dangerous. If something isn’t working, you fix it—fast.”
3. Clear On-Field Identity:
“There’s been too much inconsistency in scheme and execution,” the coach noted. “One week they look like a playoff contender, the next like a mid-tier Big Ten team. That’s a leadership issue.”
Despite the sharp critique, the former head coach made it clear he still believes Freeman can succeed at Notre Dame—but only if he adapts quickly.
“There’s no reason Marcus can’t become one of the great coaches in Notre Dame history. But that’s not going to happen by hoping things will get better. It takes control. It takes vision. It takes guts.”
Around the program, insiders say Freeman has taken the message to heart. Spring practice was reportedly more intense and structured, with a greater focus on accountability and communication. New offensive coordinator Eric Harding, brought in during the offseason, is expected to implement a faster-paced, more modern scheme to address last season’s offensive woes.
Players, too, seem to sense the urgency. “Coach Freeman has challenged all of us,” senior linebacker Jalen Sneed said. “He’s made it clear that this is a defining season—not just for him, but for the program.”
As the Irish gear up for a 2025 schedule that includes matchups against Ohio State, Clemson, and USC, the pressure to deliver is undeniable. A top-10 recruiting class, a returning core of veteran defenders, and a promising young quarterback room mean expectations will be sky-high.
Still, the echoes of the past are never far from Notre Dame. And when one of those echoes delivers a message this direct, it’s clear the time for transition is over—and the time for results has arrived.
“Notre Dame doesn’t rebuild,” the former coach concluded. “It reloads. But only if the guy pulling the trigger knows what he’s aiming at.”
-
7
