Notre Dame Football Coach, Wayne Grad Donates $330K to Huber Heights Schools

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman recently presented a $330,000 donation to the Huber Heights City Schools district to fund construction of a new athletic weight room at Wayne High School.

Freeman, a proud Wayne graduate, announced the contribution via video during the October school board meeting, sharing his deep appreciation for his hometown.

“Honor, pride, and gratitude are just a few of the life skills I learned growing up in Huber Heights City Schools,” Freeman said in the video. “The love, selflessness, and care that many people in the Huber Heights community have for its young people is rare. I’ve grown to understand the privilege it is to have grown up in a community like Huber Heights.”

Freeman said he feels it’s his duty to give back to the school that gave him his start in life — especially within athletics.

“I often tell our players that with tradition comes responsibility; the tradition of Wayne High School reminds me of the responsibility I have to represent the community that helped raise me the right way,” he said. “The values I learned in the weight room were so important to the foundation for my future. Not only did I learn to choose hard, but I learned that to be successful, it takes more than one. I wouldn’t have grown physically or mentally in that weight room on my own. I needed my coaches, teammates, and equipment to help me reach my full potential.”

Superintendent Jason Enix praised Freeman’s gift and his continued connection to his roots.

“For all of us that walk the halls of Huber Heights City Schools and Wayne High School, we can relate to that sense of pride,” Enix said. “To have fellow alumni like Marcus Freeman, who have gone on to do remarkable things, and with his prominence at Notre Dame, to take the time and responsibility of providing a financial gift to the district—it really says a lot about what the district did for him and his family.”

Freeman graduated from Wayne High School in 2004 and went on to play linebacker for The Ohio State University (2004–2008) before beginning his coaching career. His coaching journey has included time at Ohio State, Kent State, Purdue, and the University of Cincinnati before joining Notre Dame in 2021, first as defensive coordinator and now as head coach.

His generous gift reflects his continued commitment to leadership, education, and the values he learned growing up in Huber Heights — a community that continues to shape champions both on and off the field.

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