ATLANTA — Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman has made history as the first Black and Asian American head coach to lead a team to the College Football Playoff National Championship, which is being held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.  

His Fighting Irish clinched the spot with a thrilling 27-24 victory over Penn State in the Orange Bowl last Thursday.

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The championship game is set for Monday, Jan. 20, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Notre Dame will face Ohio State, the Cotton Bowl semifinal winner.

Freeman, a Korean American, reflected on his trailblazing status after the Orange Bowl win. 

“It is an honor, and I hope all coaches — minorities, Black, Asian, white, it doesn’t matter, great people — continue to get opportunities to lead young men like this,” Freeman said. “But this ain’t about me. This is about us. We’re going to celebrate what we’ve done because it’s so special.”

The 39-year-old coach has emphasized his diverse heritage and the values he learned from his family. His father, an Air Force veteran, met Freeman’s mother while stationed in South Korea. Freeman credits his upbringing with shaping his leadership approach. 

“She’s a Korean woman who fell in love with this American guy that was stationed over in Korea,” Freeman said. “And she left all of her comfort, back home, in order to start a family with my dad in the United States. She’s taught me so much about sacrifice, how it can be its own reward.”

Notre Dame (14-1) has a chance to win its 12th national title and first since 1988. Now in his third year as head coach, Freeman holds an impressive 34-9 overall record.