ATLANTA, GA — On January 20, the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the grand stage of the College Football Playoff National Championship will be set in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with Notre Dame against Ohio State in prime time. With it comes a historic moment for Notre Dame’s head coach, Marcus Freeman. As the first Black head coach of Asian descent to lead a team in this prestigious championship game, Freeman is aiming for victory and symbolizing a broader shift in the landscape of college football.
Freeman emphasizes the importance of opportunities that transcend race. “I hope that somebody gives the right person an opportunity,” he said, acknowledging the pivotal roles Notre Dame’s former athletic director, Jack Swarbrick, and Father John Jenkins played in elevating him to this position. They made the decision to give me an opportunity. I hope that people get opportunities based on their actions and not the color of their skin.
His position isn’t just a personal milestone; it’s a beacon for future generations. “If me being a Black and Asian head coach in the college football National Championship gives others that opportunity, that’s awesome. I’ve always said this: I don’t want this to be about me. I want this to be about others and about others getting an opportunity and our team.”
Freeman does not lose sight of the confluence of his historic coaching role with Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “As far as playing in the National Championship game on MLK Day, the attention should be on MLK Day, what he did for our country, and the progress he made for equal rights and progress for all people.”
For Freeman, this day is as much about Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy as it is about football. “Martin Luther King Day is about celebrating that man and his impact on our country.” As Freeman leads his team onto the field, his presence speaks volumes not only for his tactical prowess but also as a testament to the evolving face of leadership in college sports.
He definitely stands on the shoulders of great Black football head coaches that have paved the way such as Eddie Robinson, Jake Gaither, Marino Casem and many others.
The implications of this moment will extend well beyond the field, inviting institutions to think carefully about diversity in their top ranks while encouraging a new generation of Black coaches to imagine how their futures might look on the national stage. Marcus Freeman is more than a man in charge of a championship run; he has a chance to carve a pathway for those who come next.
*Freeman is also named as a finalist for the FWAA Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award.
