Marcus Freeman’s 28-Year Veteran Strategy Might Be Notre Dame’s Only Hope Amid NFL Raids
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is facing an offseason of upheaval, with NFL teams aggressively raiding his staff. In response, Freeman is leaning on a bold strategy—targeting seasoned, 28-year coaching veterans—to stabilize the program and maintain the Fighting Irish’s trajectory.
With several key assistants leaving for NFL opportunities, including offensive coordinator Gerad Parker and defensive line coach Al Washington, Freeman has had to rethink his approach to staffing. Rather than opting for younger, up-and-coming assistants, he is pursuing experienced coaches with deep roots in the profession. His focus is on individuals who bring stability, wisdom, and proven success—qualities essential to keeping Notre Dame competitive at the highest level.
Freeman’s approach mirrors strategies employed by legendary college coaches like Nick Saban and Urban Meyer, who often surrounded themselves with veteran assistants capable of handling the high expectations of elite programs. The idea is simple: While younger coaches may bring energy and innovation, veterans bring knowledge, discipline, and the ability to quickly adapt in high-pressure situations.
One of the primary concerns for Freeman is ensuring continuity in recruiting and player development. With a storied program like Notre Dame, maintaining consistency is key to national championship aspirations. Bringing in veteran coaches allows for seamless transitions, ensuring that systems remain intact even amid staff turnover.
Additionally, Freeman must counteract the growing influence of the NFL, which continues to lure top college assistants with lucrative contracts and the allure of coaching at the highest level. Notre Dame has seen a steady drain of coaching talent to the pros, and without a strong plan, the program could suffer long-term consequences.
By focusing on veteran coaches, Freeman is banking on experience over hype, a move that could define his tenure at Notre Dame. If his strategy pays off, it could keep the Irish in the national title conversation despite the constant threat of NFL poaching. But if it backfires, Freeman could find himself in an uphill battle to maintain Notre Dame’s prominence.
With spring football just around the corner, all eyes are on South Bend to see if Freeman’s veteran strategy is the answer to the coaching carousel woes—or just another short-term fix in the ever-evolving world of college football.
