Dick Corbett Head Football Coach Marcus Freeman has been named one of 21 coaches from across the country selected for the preseason watch list for the 2024 Dodd Trophy, which is presented annually to a head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd’s coaching philosophy.
The watch list was created through a selection process by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. taking into consideration each program’s Academic Progress Rate (APR), Graduation Success Rate (GSR), commitment to service and charity in the community, as well as projected success for the 2024 season.
“The Dodd Trophy continues to be the most coveted coach of the year award due to what we call the ‘Dodd Difference,’ where coaches are held to a higher standard, both on and off the field,” said Jim Terry, chairman of the Boddy Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation. “This award is about more than just wins on the gridiron, but also focuses on how these coaches embody leadership with their student-athletes in the classroom and throughout their communities. As a result, we only consider coaches whose programs have earned the highest APRs and require coaches to have at least two years of experience leading their current programs, so that they have had time to establish a precedent at their universities.”
Freeman is entering his third season leading the Fighting Irish program, coming off a 10-3 campaign in 2023. His seven victories over ranked opponents are the most of any Notre Dame football coach over the course of their first two seasons, while his first two campaigns have averaged 35.5 points per game (the best since Jesse Harper had 36.9 in his first two season in 1913-14) and held opponents to 19.5 points per game (the best since Lou Holtz’s first two seasons held opponents to 19.0).
The 2023 team finished 14th in the final Associated Press poll while setting program records for touchdowns (66) and total points (509) while also finishing ranked seventh in the country in both scoring offense and scoring defense.
The ‘23 Irish averaged 39.2 points per game, which is the second-highest in school history, averaged 5.3 yards-per-carry (the best since 1950) and scored 40 points in five consecutive games for the first time in program history. The ‘23 Irish also led the nation in pass efficiency defense, while ranking second in red zone defense and fifth in total defense.
Notre Dame will begin the 2024 season at Texas A&M on August 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET.