Report: Luke Fickell, Marcus Freeman Among Lead Candidates for Notre Dame HC Vacancy

Freeman coached under Fickell as Cincinnati's defensive coordinator before leaving for the same role at Notre Dame this past offseason.

CINCINNATI — The Notre Dame head football coaching position is in flux, and two coaches with strong Cincinnati ties are the leaders to take over for Brian Kelly after his departure to LSU. According to The Athletic's Bruce Feldman, Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell and current Notre Dame defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman are the frontrunners for the job.

There are expectations that Luke Fickell will be in the mix for this IF ND can wait out a potential Playoff run by Cincy, but right now it's Freeman (& the other ND staffers) who have been left to talk recruits off the ledge w/ the Kelly situation. And maybe coach ND in the CFP. https://t.co/orXt6yOx3w

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) November 30, 2021

Feldman notes that Notre Dame would need to wait out a College Football Playoff run by Cincinnati if they want to have a chance at bringing in the coach. Fickell has made it clear he wants to raise his family in the midwest, with Notre Dame always posing the greatest threat to his UC tenure.

Another report by former ND player Mick Assaf stated that Freeman will be the next head coach. Kelly confirmed in an interview earlier this year that Freeman would follow him.

BREAKING: Per my sources, Marcus Freeman will be the next head coach at the University of Notre Dame. #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/Ab7RObVZG8

— Mick Assaf (@mickassaf) November 30, 2021

FWIW Brian Kelly did say that Marcus Freeman would be the next head coach last summer pic.twitter.com/gcdveytTxt

— Mike Renner (@mikerenner_) November 30, 2021

Kelly leaves the Fighting Irish at 11-1 this season, with their only loss coming against Cincinnati 24-13. The veteran coach logged five straight 10-win seasons at ND after the school recorded four total 10-plus win seasons in the 23 years before this streak. Many have credited Freeman as the brain trust behind Notre Dame's highly-ranked recruiting classes over the next few years.

Plenty of Notre Dame fans want to see their defensive coordinator get a chance at the job.

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