6 A.M. With...Marcus Freeman - The head coach of Notre Dame football challenges himself by training daily and lifting heavy.

Marcus Freeman finishes his one-mile warmup run at the same place every morning: in front of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, in the middle of Notre Dame's campus in South Bend, Indiana. I always look at that clock, because it tells me that time's running out, he says. It's a reminder that time's running out at Notre Dame and in life. He walks by the Golden Dome, pausing at the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue as a way to center myself and feel grateful for this life, before he hits ND's athletic complex for his leg-and-chest-day workout.

- By Mark Lelinwalla - Photographs by Lyndon Frenc

Marcus Freeman finishes his one-mile warmup run at the same place every morning: in front of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, in the middle of Notre Dame's campus in South Bend, Indiana. I always look at that clock, because it tells me that time's running out, he says. It's a reminder that time's running out at Notre Dame and in life. He walks by the Golden Dome, pausing at the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue as a way to center myself and feel grateful for this life, before he hits ND's athletic complex for his leg-and-chest-day workout.

The 38-year-old Freeman, a linebacker at Ohio State from 2004 to 2008, is beginning his third season as coach of the Fighting Irish. Freeman steered a young Notre Dame to a 10-3 record last season, capping its 2023 with a Sun Bowl victory. With hyped transfer QB Riley Leonard set to guide a revamped offense, expectations are even higher this year. Freeman will need to be at his high-energy best, which is why he's going so hard right now.