Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman named Dodd Coach of the Year

Officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. today announced that Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has been named the winner of the 2024 Dodd Trophy.

According to the Dodd Trophy website, the award honors the head football coach whose program embodies the award’s three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity, while also having success on the playing field throughout the season. The award, which was founded in 1976, is named after legendary Georgia Tech coach Bobby Dodd.

It’s quite the turnaround for Freeman, who saw his team suffer the lowest of lows, dropping a contest to MAC school Northern Illinois Sept. 7. The Irish have been in playoff mode ever since and have rattled off 11 straight victories, including one in the first round of the College Football Playoff over Indiana. On Wednesday night, his squad faces Georgia in the Sugar Bowl for a spot in the CFP semifinals.

Notre Dame finished out the regular season as one of the most balanced teams in the country, leading the nation in passing efficiency defense (94.10), turnovers gained (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.

“Being named The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Year is very humbling as Coach Dodd is such a legend in our sport,” Freeman said according to the Dodd Trophy website. “I am accepting 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 in our program embody those values.”

“Coach Freeman has been on our radar all season, as he was on our preseason and midseason watch lists,” added Chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation Jim Terry. “It’s evident both on and off the field that he has an unwavering commitment to Notre Dame and his student athletes. Coach Freeman embodies everything that this award stands for with his dedication to scholarship, leadership and integrity, so it’s truly an honor to name him as 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 1000 Academic Progress Rate, which is tied for the highest mark in the FBS, and held an impressive Graduation Success Rate of 94.

South Carolina’s Shane Beamer, Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham, Oregon’s Dan Lanning and Army’s Jeff Monken were the other finalists for the prestigious honor.