Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman is a rising star in the world of college football. With the Fighting Irish positioned for success in his third season as head coach, Marcus reflects on his leadership journey– from standout player to NFL hopeful to college coach. In this episode, we talk about facing adversity, seizing opportunities, and leading with authenticity.
Show Notes
- What happened when his NFL dream was cut short (1:35)
- Embrace moving forward in the face of uncertainty (3:10)
- Choose hard: Great opportunities usually involve a struggle (5:00)
- Stepping into a new leadership role (6:27)
- How he prepared to become a head coach (8:03)
- His leadership approach (10:16)
- You can’t coach “not to lose a player” (11:47)
- Why “shoulder to shoulder” time is important for leaders to build trust (12:54)
- His biggest leadership lessons (14:05)
- The advice he got from former head coach Brian Kelly (15:47)
- Who he considers mentors in his life (18:55)
- Establishing a new culture inside of tradition (20:42)
- Focus on how to reach your full potential, not the outcome (24:18)
- Embracing his Black and Korean heritage (26:12)
- There is no work-life balance; it’s a blend (28:12)
Resources / People Mentioned
- Notre Dame football
- Ohio State football
- University of Cincinnati football
- Brian Kelly, college football coach
- Jim Tressel, college football coach
- Mike Tomlin, NFL coach
- Tony Dungy, NFL coach
- Mike Vrabel, NFL coach
- General Bryan Fenton
- Jack Swarbrick, Notre Dame
- Pete Bevacqua, Notre Dame
- Ron Powlus, Notre Dame
- President Barack Obama
Recommended For You
Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:
- Mike McDaniel on Leading with Authenticity
- James Franklin on Leading with Core Values
- Dabo Swinney on Leading from the Heart
Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app and leave a rating or review.
