Marcus Freeman, an American football head coach at Notre Dame, considers his wife, Joanna Freeman, his guide & support system of the family. The college-time lovers married after 3 years of graduation.

A heart condition took away the playing career of the former linebacker Marcus. But he couldn’t stay away from football & pursued his career as a coach. And during all these hardships, his wife, Joanna, stayed by his side.

Freeman, a defensive coordinator for Notre Dame, became its head coach in late 2021 & opened the 2022-23 season.

Whether it is social media posts or interviews, Marcus leaves no place to show his regard & respect to his spouse.

With more than a decade as husband-wife, the couple is now the parents of six children.

In this article, we will cover the wife of the former footballer-turned-coach, Marcus Freeman. Stay with us until the end of the article to learn more about Joanna’s relationship & her significant role in Marcus’ career decisions.

Marcus Freeman Wife | Quick Facts

Marcus Freeman’s Wife, Joanna Freeman | Early Life & Education

Joanna was born on August 24, 1984, to American parents. Her birth name is Joanna Herncane. She grew up in Massillon, Ohio, where she attended Washington High School.

After that, Joanna enrolled at & graduated from the Ohio State University.

Further insight into her early life & family background is not out.

As of December 2023, Joanna Freeman is 39 years old. She is 2 years elder than her football coach husband, Marcus Freeman, born on January 10, 1986.

What Is She Doing Now?

Joanna’s current profession is not out, but with six children to watch over, she could be busy as a homemaker. Not to mention, she is a counselor and supports her husband.

Joanna Freeman | Married Life & Children

Marcus Freeman and Joanna are among the sports couples whose love story began in their college days. They have been together for over a decade, and their love seems to only get stronger with time.

The couple met while studying at Ohio State University & began dating shortly after- around the late 2000s.

The duo married on February 20, 2010, the same year when Macus graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports & Leisure Studies.

In 2020, the football coach commemorated their 10th wedding anniversary via Instagram & wrote, “Celebrating 10 years of being married to the love of my life and the glue to the Freeman family. Happy anniversary Jo!”.

The former football linebacker is undoubtedly in love with everything about his wife. But among those, Joanna’s dedication to their family is a supreme one.

The couple shares six children together, four sons: Vinny, Nico, Gino, and Rocco & two daughters: Siena and Capri.

Their eldest child, son Vinny, was born in 2007 before they exchanged vows. The duo’s second child is a daughter, Siena.

Joanna’s third child is Gino. Then, they welcomed their fourth child, Nico Freeman (b. July 24, 2015), whom Marcus wished 4th birthday in 2019.

In July 2017, their fifth kid, daughter Capri, was born. Rocco is their youngest child; he was born in 2018.

It’s always heartwarming to see a couple as devoted to each other and their family as they are. They reside in South Bend, Indiana, United States.

Role of Joanna Freeman In Marcus Freeman’s Career

Joanna Freeman has played a significant role in her husband’s career decisions. In an article published in The Players Tribune in December 2021, Marcus Freeman said that his wife advised him to choose Notre Dame.

When Brian Kelly left for Louisiana State University (LSU) after the 2021 regular season, he requested Freeman to watch over the post-season games as a defensive coordinator.

However, Marcus and Joanna weighed the decision carefully, considering its impact on their family (specifically six kids) & Notre Dame team.

In the end, the couple decided to stay and fight for the top job at Notre Dame, with Joanna supporting Marcus in every step.

“I just thank God that I didn’t make the wrong decision twice,” Marcus referenced his decision to attend Ohio State over Notre Dame as a player.

Marcus and Joanna have a strong partnership and a deep commitment to each other and their family.

Freeman credits his wife as his “toughest critic” and “partner in every sense of the word,”; and upon seeing Joanna’s support to him during his career journey struggles, the statement fits the best.

As Marcus embarks on this new chapter in his career, it’s clear that he has the support of his wife and family behind him, and we do not doubt that he will continue to make a positive impact on and off the field.

Marcus Freeman Wife | Height & Body Measurements Of Joanna

Even though Joanna herself makes limited public appearances, she is a frequent mention on her husband, Marcus Freeman’s Instagram posts.

She has a charming personality with a slim body & has a height of 5 feet 10 inches (1.77 m). Nothing much about her preference is known, but she seemingly is a fitness lover & has maintained her physique despite having seven children.

Joanna, a Virgo, has black hair and beautiful hazel eyes.

As for her husband Marcus, a former footballer & now a coach, he stands 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall.  

Brief About Marcus Freeman | Career As A Coach & Player

Marcus, the youngest of two children to Michael & Chong Freeman, pursued a football career from a young age. That interest led him to become an American football coach.

Since December 3, 2021, Freeman serves as the football head coach for Fighting Irish at Notre Dame.

It has been home to Pro Football Hall of Famers: Joe Montana, Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Dave Casper & Edward J. DeBartolo Jr.

He joined Notre Dame in early 2021 as its defensive coordinator and linebackers coach before promotion to head coach. Its former head coach Brian Kelly made a departure to LSU.

As a newly appointed head coach, he saw a loss in Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma. But in the 2022 season, Marcus led the Fighting Irish to the Gator Bowl victory against South Carolina.

Earlier than that, Marcus Freeman was a graduate assistant at his alma mater Ohio State in 2010 and then as an assistant coach for Kent State in 2011-12.

Then from January 2013 to 2016, he served as a linebackers/co-defensive coordinator coach for Purdue University. 

After joining the University of Cincinnati on December 13, 2016, he was the linebackers/defensive coordinator coach for the Bearcats from 2017 to 2020.

A Football Linebacker Before Retirement

An attendant of Wayne High School, Marcus Freeman excelled as a linebacker, which earned him a scholarship to Ohio State University, where he played for the Buckeyes from 2005 to 2008.

During his time at Ohio State, the four-year letterman was named as Second Team All-Big Ten selection twice, in 2007 and 2008.

He led the college team to four Big Ten titles, three BCS bowls, and two entries at National Championship Game.

Marcus then became the fifth-round (154th overall pick) of the Chicago Bears in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Other Ohio State alums in the draft were Malcolm Jenkins, Beanie Wells, Brian Robiskie, & James Laurinaitis. The top-3 picks of the 2009 NFL Draft were Matthew Stafford, Jason Smith, and Tyson Jackson.

But Freeman was waived by Chicago Bears ahead of the 2009 season. So, he signed with the Buffalo Bills practice squad only to see a waiver after a month, in October 2009.

Shortly after, he had a stint at Houston Texans but announced retirement on May 10, 2010, as the enlarged heart condition ended his playing career.

Marcus Freeman Wife | Net Worth & Salary

Joanna Freeman is yet to disclose her profession and her exact net worth remains unknown. But as the wife of a successful college football coach, she lives a quality lifestyle for sure.

As of December 2023, her husband, Marcus Freeman, has a net worth of $3 million.

Even though Freeman played as a linebacker in high school & college, his NFL career was short-ended due to his heart condition. He had signed a four-year $1.9317 million contract with Chicago Bears.

So, Marcus’ coaching career became the major source of his income.

Currently, Marcus Freeman earns a salary of more than $5 million per year as the head coach of Notre Dame.

The college’s former head coach Brian Kelly was earning $2.7 million before he moved to LSU, which offered him $2.7 million.

In 2021, when Freeman joined Notre Dame as defensive coordinator (before promotion to head coach), his salary was $1.7 million.

Earlier than that, while at the University of Cincinnati, DC, his annual earnings recorded around $800,000.

Marcus Freeman Wife | FAQs

Is Joanna the mother to all of Marcus's seven children?

No, Joanna is not the mother of all of Marcus's seven children. According to sources, Marcus has one daughter, Bria, born in 2007, to whom Joanna is the stepmother. The couple has other six children: Vinny, Siena, Nico, Gino, Capri, and Rocco.

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