To the surprise of no one....
High school wrestling coach involved in Marcus Freeman spat facing 100-year suspension
Portrait of Ehsan KassimEhsan Kassim
USA TODAY
June 17, 2026, 3:51 p.m. ET
An Indiana high school assistant wrestling coach is facing a significant suspension.
Former New Prairie assistant coach Chris Fleeger is appealing a 100-year suspension handed down by the Indiana High School Athletic Association. Fleeger gained national notoriety from an altercation with Notre Dame football head coach Marcus Freeman in early January.
According to the South Bend Tribune — part of USA TODAY Network — Fleeger filed a verified complaint in Marion County court on Monday, June 15, against the IHSAA and Commissioner Paul Neidig for a “Temporary Restraining Order, Preliminary and Permanent Injunctive Relief, State and Federal Due Process Violations, and for Declaratory Judgment.”
The temporary restraining order was already denied, while the IHSAA was in court today, on Wednesday, June 17, for an appeal hearing.
Fleegler was informed of the suspension and a pending ongoing investigation by Neidig in an email on Jan. 19. Two main reasons were given for the suspension:
Multiple parent reports of your encouraging student-athletes to harm other student-athletes
Admitting to the Mishawaka Police Department your attempts to recruit a student-athlete to transfer to another high school
Fleeger claims that "complaints against him came after his incident with Freeman." Fleeger believes that Freeman's celebrity status as the head coach of the Fighting Irish raises concerns and questions about the legitimacy of the accusers.
In his complaint, Fleeger argued that the IHSAA did not give him due process, arguing that the association relied too much on a report from a prosecutor, who placed more blame on Fleeger than Freeman.
“The IHSAA has refused to allow Fleeger an opportunity for a fair proceeding and has, at every turn, intentionally acted to give itself every advantage at the expense of Fleeger,” the complaint read.
What happened between Marcus Freeman and Chris Fleeger?
The incident involving Fleeger and Freeman occurred at the Al Smith Wrestling Invitational at Mishawaka High School in Mishawaka, Indiana, where Freeman's son, Vinny Freeman, was competing. Fleeger alleged Freeman assaulted him in a police report with the Mishawaka Police Department.
Following the incident, Notre Dame released a statement, backing its head football coach.
"Vinny Freeman, head coach Marcus Freeman's son, was verbally accosted during and after his wrestling match by a local wrestling coach," Notre Dame's statement read. "Marcus and Joanna Freeman intervened and removed Vinny from the situation. At no point did Coach Freeman physically engage with anyone. We believe that the police report, which includes video evidence, fully exonerates Coach Freeman and makes clear these accusations are unfounded."
One day later, the St. Joseph County prosecutor's office released findings from the investigation and did not file any charges against the fifth-year Notre Dame head coach.
Link: Fleeger