Notre Dame football coach and Catholic convert is 'not shy about' the importance of faith.

The Fighting Irish's success in football since 1988 is due to the Catholic convert who leads the team, according to him.

In 2021, Marcus Freeman succeeded Brian Kelly as the program leader after Kelly departed for Louisiana State University.

In the same year, Freeman was appointed as Kelly's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Notre Dame. He faced a dilemma: either follow his boss to LSU or stay at Notre Dame, according to reports.

Before becoming Catholic, Freeman reinstated a team tradition of attending Mass together before each home game.

"Freeman recounted his experience as a recruit at a Notre Dame football game, where he watched the team come out of the basilica for pregame Mass and thought it was the coolest thing. He also mentioned that he had seen movies about it."

Notre Dame's first-year graduate, a 39-year-old Ohio State alumnus, remembered that there was no pregame Mass during his time at Notre Dame.

When I became head coach, I had discussed with the administration the decision not to have pregame Mass and how we could change it. It was important to me to make that change.

Despite being brought up as a Christian, Freeman did not identify as Catholic upon arriving at the campus in 2021.

According to a bulletin at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Granger, Indiana, Freeman was baptized into the Catholic Church and received his first Holy Communion the following year.

Father Nate Wills, the team chaplain, assisted Freeman in his journey towards becoming a Catholic.

Freeman stated that the University of Notre Dame is a place where faith growth is encouraged.

"The reality of having a faith and a belief in something greater than oneself is not exclusive to Catholicism."

"You have to trust beyond having evidence, trust beyond knowing …"

Players also share in that faith, among them quarterback Riley Leonard.

Leonard started playing for Duke University in 2022 and 2023, but an injury in 2023 forced him to sit out, and he later announced that he would be transferring to Notre Dame for his final season of eligibility.

Riley's first and last visit to Notre Dame in the transfer portal was on Saturday, as he told reporters.

Notre Dame was God's plan for Riley, as he openly discussed his faith.

Riley recounted how they would pray at night in their room, asking, "Jesus, Lord, could you please provide me with an offer?"

"The next day, I woke up and He delivered."

Riley stated that Freeman is a modest individual who doesn't avoid expressing his religious beliefs.

"Freeman stated to reporters that our players engage in Bible study. He emphasized the importance of having faith, which involves trusting beyond evidence and beyond knowing. He added that this is another way of saying having faith. He emphasized that our players are not hesitant to express their faith, and it is crucial for us."

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly will attempt to lead the team to a national championship on Monday night, following in the footsteps of Lou Holtz, a Catholic coach who achieved the same feat.

Above the door to the east entrance of Notre Dame's Basilica of the Sacred Heart, where the team's pregame Masses are held, the sign reads "God, Country, Notre Dame, In Glory Everlasting."