Marcus Freeman family tree: Meet the wife, kids, parents and more about Notre Dame coach's Korean roots

Teddy Ricketson

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Marcus Freeman family tree: Meet the wife, kids, parents and more about Notre Dame coach's Korean roots image

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Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has turned a lot of heads in a short amount of time. He took over as the head man for the Fighting Irish in 2021 after serving as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, and quickly ascended to become one of the most notable head coaches in college football.

Freeman became the first Black and Asian American head coach to lead a team to the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2025, where he and Notre Dame fell to Ohio State 34-23. It was the Fighting Irish's first appearance in the national championship since 2013.

Here is everything you need to know about Freeman's family tree.

MORE: Revisiting Marcus Freeman's Ohio State playing career

Is Marcus Freeman married?

Yes. Freeman met his now-wife Joanna in college. They got married in 2010 and have six children together. 

MORE: Marcus Freeman coaching timeline, from Ohio State GA to Notre Dame HC

Marcus Freeman wife: Joanna Freeman

Joanna Freeman is also from Ohio, growing up in Massillon. The city is about an hour south of Cleveland and two hours northeast of Columbus. Marcus was a student at Ohio State, playing linebacker for the Buckeyes. She went to Otterbein University. They were introduced to each other by a mutual friend, and they got married on Feb. 20, 2010.

Joana previously worked as a news reporter at WBNS-Channel 10 in Columbus but has since become a stay-at-home mom with the expanding family. 

MORE: How Marcus Freeman made history as NCAA's first Black coach in title game

How many kids does Marcus Freeman have?

Marcus Freeman has seven children.

He and Joanna have six kids together: Vinny, Siena, Gino, Nico, Capri and Rocco. Vinny is the oldest at 17. He has followed in his dad's footsteps, playing football in high school. He's also on the wrestling team. 

Sienna is 12, Gino is 11, Nico is 9, Capri is 7, and Rocco is 6.

Freeman also has another daughter, Bria, who is 18 and from a previous relationship, per U.S. Weekly. 

Marcus Freeman sons

Vinny Freeman 

Vinny is the oldest of the sons at 17 and has followed his father's footsteps by playing football in high school. 

Vinny's more notable sport is wrestling, where he recently committed to Cornell.

Gino Freeman

Freeman's second son, Gino, is 11 years old. He plays youth football, which led to a hilarious conversation between Freeman and a reporter in a Notre Dame press conference.

Nico Freeman 

Nico is 9 years old and is frequently seen attending Notre Dame games with his siblings and parents.

Rocco Freeman

Rocco is the youngest son at 6 years old, rounding out the four boys and two girls in the Freeman household.

Marcus Freeman daughters

Bria Freeman

Bria is the oldest of Marcus Freeman's seven children at 18 years old. She is from a previous relationship, unlike Freeman's other six kids.

Bria's stepmother is Joanna Freeman, Marcus's current wife, and sources indicate that the extended family remains close.

Sienna Freeman

Siena is the oldest daughter at 12 years old, making her the second-oldest child overall.

Capri Freeman

Capri is the youngest daughter at 7 years old. She is often seen with her siblings and parents supporting the Notre Dame team on the sidelines.

Is Marcus Freeman Asian?

Yes, Marcus Freeman is of Asian descent, as his mother is Korean and his father is African American. He embraces both sides of his heritage, becoming the first Black and Asian American head coach to lead a team to the national championship.

Freeman was born to an African American father and a South Korean mother, and he proudly identifies as mixed-race, celebrating both his Black and Korean roots.

Marcus Freeman mom: Chong Freeman

Marcus' mom, Chong, is from Daegu City, South Korea. The couple married in 1977 and moved to Texas in 1979. She met Marcus Freeman's father, Michael Freeman (who is African American), while he was serving in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Osan Air Base in South Korea during the 1970s. The couple moved to Texas in 1979.

Freeman has spoken about how his mother's Korean culture, along with his father's background, contributed to a diverse upbringing that helped him and his brother, Michael Jr., not see "racial division" and embrace different sides of their heritage.

Marcus Freeman dad: Michael Freeman

Freeman's father Michael grew up in Columbus, Ohio. He worked as an usher at Ohio Stadium where the Buckeyes play. Michael joined the Air Force soon after graduating high school. In the 1970s, he was stationed at Osan Air Base in South Korea. After his military service, Michael settled his family in Ohio, where Marcus grew up.

Marcus often credits his father, along with his mother, for instilling the strong values and work ethic he exhibits today.

Where is Marcus Freeman from?

Freeman was born in Fairborn, Ohio in 1986. He was born at the Wright-Patterson Air Force base. Freeman's father served in the Air Force and met Freeman's mother when he was serving in South Korea. He lived in Ohio all through his childhood and eventually attended Ohio State. He played five years with the Buckeyes before spending one year in the NFL. 

MORE: What conference is Notre Dame in?

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