Marcus Freeman, the energetic head coach of Notre Dame football, has always had his wife, Joanna, by his side through life and his career. Their story started back in the mid-2000s when Marcus was a star linebacker at Ohio State (2004–2008) and met Joanna thanks to his best friend, Calvin Pruitt.
Marcus and Joanna lived in the same apartment complex in Columbus then. Joanna was studying at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, before starting a career as a news reporter for WBNS-Channel 10 in Columbus. Their connection grew, and they’ve been building a life full of love, dreams, and family ever since.
Marcus Freeman’s Italian Wife, Joanna, and Their Six Kids
On February 20, 2010, Marcus Freeman married Joanna, his girlfriend-turned-wife of Italian ethnicity. The Notre Dame football head coach has built a loving family with his longtime partner, which now includes six kids: sons Vinny, 17, Gino, 11, Nico, 9, and Rocco, 6, and daughters Siena, 12, and Capri, 7.
In 2007, Marcus and Joanna welcomed their first child, Vinny—a huge moment in their early days together. Fast forward to now, Vinny’s a junior at Penn High School in Mishawaka, Indiana, where he’s made a name for himself as a standout safety on the football team and a talented wrestler. His skills even got him an official visit to Cornell University in August 2024. Three years after Vinny was born, Marcus and Joanna made their marriage life official after exchanging vows in 2010, right before Marcus kicked off his coaching career as a grad assistant at Ohio State, his alma mater.
As their family grew, Marcus’ coaching gigs took them all over the country. In 2012, when Marcus was the linebackers coach at Kent State, their first daughter, Siena, was born. A year later, while he was coaching at Purdue, they welcomed their second son, Gino. By 2015, still at Purdue, their family grew again with the arrival of Nico. Over the years, Marcus has shared plenty of family moments on Instagram—celebrating milestones, football victories, and their tight-knit bond.
Back in 2017, the Freemans welcomed their second daughter, Capri, while Marcus was making waves as the defensive coordinator at the University of Cincinnati. Her arrival was pure joy, with her four older siblings proudly posing with their new baby sister. The family grew again in 2018 when their sixth child, Rocco, was born. That holiday season, Marcus shared a sweet family photo by a cozy fireplace decorated with stockings, capturing all the warmth and love.
Over the years, Marcus and Joanna hit some momentous milestones, both personally and professionally. In 2020, Marcus celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary with a heartfelt Instagram post, calling Joanna “the glue to the Freeman family.” Then, in December 2021, Marcus reached a career-high when he was named the 30th head coach of Notre Dame football. His whole family was right there with him, celebrating and showing their endless support.
The Freemans have been thriving as a family, sharing plenty of special moments along the way. In 2023, Marcus celebrated Mother’s Day with a heartfelt shoutout to Joanna and his mom, Chong Freeman, showing love for the amazing women in his life. Fast forward to January 2025, Joanna and all six of their kids joined Marcus on the field to celebrate a huge win—Notre Dame’s victory over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. The win punched their ticket to the College Football Playoff semifinals, a significant achievement that highlights Marcus’ hard work and leadership.
Yall asked, @NDFootball delivered. Here’s what Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said at halftime of the Orange Bowl…
“We ain’t about to panic. Ain’t no need to be nervous. It’s a fight.”
He had his guys believing, and belief is a powerful thing.
pic.twitter.com/whdStPbBi5
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) January 12, 2025
Who Is Joanna Freeman?
Joanna Freeman (née Herncane) grew up in Massillon, Ohio, in a tight-knit Italian family where Sundays were all about cheering for the Cleveland Browns—a tradition that brought everyone together. Before becoming such a big part of Marcus’s life, she had a career in journalism as a TV reporter covering news and traffic at WBNS in Columbus.
Things took a turn when Marcus got a coaching job at Kent State. They thought about living apart so she could keep working, but Joanna chose family over everything. As she told Marcus, “If you’re going to do this, we’re going to do this together.” Now a mother to six kids—Vinny, Siena, Gino, Nico, Capri, and Rocco—Joanna juggles their busy household like a pro while also supporting Marcus’s career. Marcus often calls her the “rock” of their family, amazed at how effortlessly she handles parenting.
In May 2021, he gave her a sweet shoutout on Instagram, praising how she raises their kids with grace, even when he’s away coaching. Thanks to her steady presence, Marcus can balance family life with his job, something he really appreciates. He’s also committed to showing his players what it looks like to be a dedicated father and husband, inspired by his own college coaches who modeled that balance for him.
The Freeman family’s story is tightly connected to Marcus’s career milestones. Joanna and the kids are always there cheering him on, like they did during Notre Dame’s Sugar Bowl win in January 2025. Whether it’s rooting from the sidelines or holding things down at home, Joanna’s loyalty and adaptability stand out. Marcus calls her his “Italian pistol” with a “pure heart,” a mix of love, fierceness, and someone who keeps him in check when needed.
Marcus Freeman is ONE OF THE BEST LEADERS IN ALL OF FOOTBALL RIGHT NOW. But he knows he wouldn’t be able to do what he does without his Wife, Joanna.
“To do what I do, you have to have the most unselfish Wife in the world.” –@Marcus_Freeman1 @NDFootball pic.twitter.com/B2MYWsfjVS
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 3, 2025
Even with the challenges of his busy career, Joanna stays supportive and understanding, knowing the positive impact he has on others. She once said, “If I thought as his wife, his heart wasn’t in the right place, it’d be hard for me to deal with the absence of him. But I know he’s making a positive impact.”
