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LB Marcus Freeman (HC Notre Dame, Constant Backtracker)

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Freeman shows resiliency in life
Former Ohio State linebacker tackles tough news head-on
BY JON SPENCER ? CentralOhio.com ? July 15, 2010

LEXINGTON -- It didn't take long for Marcus Freeman to fall into character as a football coach.

He got down at eye level with his players, counting off the pushups as they hit the ground at the end of each drill.

"If I tell you to pick your nose, pick your nose," barked the former Ohio State linebacker as his troops -- a bunch of grade-schoolers -- hung on his every word.

"OK, everybody clap!"

This group wasn't going to win any prizes for synchronized clapping.

"Don't you guys have any beat?" Freeman asked in mock disgust.

The kids tried again. Much better.

Freeman broke into a grin. Grin? There's obviously still some cracks in his drill sergeant demeanor, still a long way to go to perfect a tough-guy image.

"I'm just learning," Freeman admitted during a break in last week's All-American Youth Football Camp at Lexington High School, where he was a guest instructor for director B.J. Payne. "This is a whole new profession for me. It's totally different than playing the game. There's a lot to learn and I'm learning from the best coaches in the nation."

Freeman is working as a graduate assistant coach for the Buckeyes. It wasn't exactly planned, but baseball isn't the only sport that throws curveballs.

Selected in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL draft by Chicago, Freeman played in all four preseason games for the Bears but was waived before the start of the regular season. He later spent time with the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans on their practice squads and had decided to sign with the Indianapolis Colts this year until a physical by a Colts team doctor in February revealed that Freeman had an enlarged heart valve.

Thankfully, it was discovered before something tragic happened, but just like that his playing career was over.

"You want to play football as long as you can, which is what I wanted to do, but it got cut short and it's time to turn the page to the next chapter," Freeman said. "Luckily, that was at Ohio State. Coach (Jim) Tressel always says when you come to Ohio State, you're a Buckeye forever. When my situation happened with the NFL, he was the first guy to welcome me back with open arms."
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Despite having three knee surgeries in college, Freeman had a very productive playing career and never strayed off course academically. He's just three classes short of obtaining his master's degree in sports management. He married his college sweetheart, Joanna, on Feb. 20. They are the proud parents of 3-year-old Vincent, a.k.a., Buddy.

"I think (mapping out a future) is something coach Tressel preaches," Freeman said. "Although you love football and it's part of your life, you set yourself up for other opportunities, and that's what I did. Ohio State presented me with a great opportunity to get my master's and prepare myself for one day when I was done playing football."
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Freeman shows resiliency in life | lancastereaglegazette.com | Lancaster Eagle Gazette
 
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Former Ohio State linebacker Marcus Freeman enjoys up-close look at business side of college sports
Published: Friday, September 24, 2010
Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer

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Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer
Former Ohio State linebacker Marvin Freeman is serving as a graduate defensive assistant coach this season. While at Ohio State, Freeman got an up-close look at the business side of college athletics through an internship with OSU AD Gene Smith.

COLUMBUS, Ohio ? There were four people in the room: Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith, an associate AD, the candidate for the head coaching job the Buckeyes were looking to fill in a non-revenue sport, and a football player. And Smith would turn to the football player and ask, "Marcus, do you have any questions?"

"By the third interview, he was asking all the questions," Smith said.

As a fifth-year senior at Ohio State in 2008, Marcus Freeman interned with Smith in the OSU athletic department, including interviewing coaching candidates, as part of his degree in sports management. His only career goal was to eventually be an AD.

"I wanted to be Gene Smith," Freeman said.

Now Freeman is back at Ohio State thinking he might rather be the next Jim Tressel, Jim Heacock or Luke Fickell. The former OSU linebacker is a graduate defensive assistant when he thought he'd still be busy playing the game. A fifth-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears in 2009, Freeman was on the practice squad of several NFL teams before he was diagnosed with an enlarged heart valve in the spring while taking a physical for the Indianapolis Colts.
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So he's redefining his friendships with former teammates like Ross Homan and Brian Rolle, making sure he's a coach first. He's living near campus with his wife, Joanna, and children Bria and Vince. And he's realizing that his time with both Smith and Tressel means he's giving his life as many options as possible.

"I'm happy," Freeman said. "I'm happier now than I think I was on the practice squad in Chicago when I was away from my wife and kids. I was never a guy that said if I didn't have football, I wouldn't have anything."
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http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2010/09/former_ohio_state_linebacker_m.html
 
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Hazell offering two big breaks
By TIM MAY

Outgoing wide receivers coach Darrell Hazell -- Kent State's new head coach -- is giving a couple of fellows on Ohio State's subordinate football staff a big career break.
Insiders say he is hiring former OSU linebacker and current program assistant Marcus Freeman as his linebackers coach. Freeman was a captain of the 2008 Buckeyes.
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http://blog.dispatch.com/buckeyesblog/
 
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Good for him.

You have to think that if Hazell makes his way back to OSU in the future Freeman might return as well... or move on to a d-coordinator position somewhere else in the meantime.

Either way, Mr. Freeman appears to be well on his way.
 
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Awesome job for Marcus. Good break for the Buckeye staffers to be able to get some promotion. Sad to see them go, but Ohio State's assistants and subordinate staff really ought to be used as a stepping stone for their careers, not a destination spot. The destinations are Coordinators and Head Coach.
 
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I'm surprised Hazell isn't going after Haynes for DC, but he probably doesn't want to raid too much from OSU on his way out. There are plenty of Kent connections that have been on the staff at OSU over the years that Hazell could call on.
 
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Assistant coach Marcus Freeman follows Darrell Hazell to Kent State: Ohio State Buckeyes Insider
Published: Tuesday, December 21, 2010
By Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer

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COLUMBUS, Ohio ? Jim Tressel gave some advice to his new defensive quality control assistant this season, telling former Ohio State linebacker Marcus Freeman to live in the present as he stuck his toe in the coaching waters for the first time. So Freeman vowed he wouldn't worry about what he'd be doing next year. And his question was given an easy answer.

Freeman, 24, will follow Ohio State receivers coach Darrell Hazell to Kent State, joining the Golden Flashes as their linebackers coach. Two years after playing his last down as a Buckeye, less than a year after his NFL career ended because of an enlarged heart valve, he'll be a full-time assistant at a Football Bowl Subdivision college.

"I'm really enjoying the coaching," Freeman said Tuesday. "When I got into it I wasn't sure but being around the coaches and the players and the program showed me the true passion I have."

Hazell was introduced as Kent State's new head coach Monday. When he pulled Freeman aside, asking if he wanted to come along and was "up for it," Freeman never had a doubt. He'd considered a path in sports administration but is sure now he wants to coach.
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http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2010/12/assistant_coach_marcus_freeman.html
 
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Youngstown's Heacock added to KSU football staff: NE Ohio College Newswatch - cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- New Kent State football coach Darrell Hazell has hired Jon Heacock as defensive coordinator/cornerbacks coach; Chris Bache as recruiting coordinator/offensive line coach; Jafar Williams as running backs coach, and Doug Davis as strength and conditioning coach.

Heacock brings eight years of head coaching experience at Youngstown State (2001-09). He took over the reins at YSU when current Ohio State coach Jim Tressel left for Columbus, compiling a record of 60-44 with the Penguins while earning Gateway Conference Coach of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons (2005 and 2006).

Continued...
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Hazell previously named Brian Rock as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach; former OSU linebacker Marcus Freeman as linebackers coach; and Thad Jemison as receivers coach.
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Linebackers coach Freeman seeks impact with Kent State
Marcus Freeman shares experiences from Ohio State, NFL, strives to mold players into solid young men
By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Saturday, Apr 09, 2011

KENT: When Marcus Freeman preaches to his Kent State linebackers about becoming solid young men as well as solid football players this season, he's not just tossing out newly learned coach-speak.

The former Ohio State linebacker is just starting his second coaching job after spending last season as a rookie defensive quality control assistant with the Buckeyes, but his personal experiences allow him to speak sincerely from the heart.

In January, Freeman accepted a position from new coach Darrell Hazell as the KSU linebackers coach. He gladly took the position, despite knowing that he would have his work cut out for him with the graduation of Cobrani Mixon, Dorian Wood, Will Johnson and Howard Bowens.
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When Freeman speaks of molding the whole person, he speaks from the heart. If all he'd allowed himself to be cast as is a football player, who knows where he'd be today. Because when playing football was suddenly taken from Freeman, he was glad to have been taught other skills to fall back on.

And that has allowed him to take his football dreams in another direction.

A fifth-round draft pick by the Chicago Bears in 2009, Freeman was on the practice squad of several NFL teams before he was suddenly diagnosed with an enlarged heart while undergoing a physical for the Indianapolis Colts.

Although the surprise find promptly ended his playing career, he was able to remain in football, albeit on a different path.

''I tell these guys, 'You're playing days are numbered,' '' Freeman said. ''I don't know if you'll go to the NFL or not ? I thought I'd be playing in the NFL for 30 years and it ended up being one year. But the same things you learn as a football player, you have to use in the real world.''

The real world for Freeman, who is married with two young children, began last season when Freeman began his coaching career at OSU as a graduate defensive assistant.
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http://www.ohio.com/sports/kent_state/119525259.html
 
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