Marcus Freeman Picks Notre Dame

The defensive coordinator search for LSU continues.

Marcus Freeman, the hottest coaching candidate out there, picked Notre Dame instead of LSU to be the Irish’s next defensive coordinator.

Freeman is a midwestern man through and through. He played linebacker at Ohio State and became a GA with the Buckeyes due to an injury that ended his NFL career after one year. Freeman got his first coaching job at Kent State, before moving to Purdue and then taking the defensive coordinator job at Cincinnati in 2017. Per The Advocate’s Brooks Kubena, proximity to home seemed to be the biggest factor in Freeman choosing Notre Dame over LSU.

Freeman interviewed with LSU on Thursday after interviewing with Notre Dame on Tuesday. It was no secret that Freeman was Orgeron’s top choice and LSU lost out on their man.

“My top guy on defense is gonna be in on Thursday,” Orgeron said on a Tuesday interview with 104.5. “We’ll see where that goes.”

As for where LSU goes now, that remains to be seen. Orgeron said in his interview he was hopeful both the offensive and defensive coordinator positions would be filled come Monday, “that may be wishful thinking.”

Orgeron was, of course, able to fill his offensive and passing game coordinator jobs with Jake Peetz and DJ Mangas, both of whom spent last season with the Carolina Panthers.