Irene Boehm
Sports Editor
In over a decade of coaching, Sewanee’s new head football coach, Joe Freitag, has developed a knack for understanding the needs of student athletes both on and off the field. Labeling himself an “encourager,” he strongly believes in the power of a good attitude and honest hard work.
“I think implementing a new perspective for these guys is going to be really refreshing. I think there is going to be a different energy to our team, and I think that’s going to be really great for these guys,” Freitag told The Sewanee Purple. “I’m also going to hire coaches who are like-minded to me, encouragers.. I know the guys are gonna love playing for them, they are high-level coaches, but they coach with a lot of energy and enthusiasm, and it’s gonna take a lot of that to turn this program around.”
In early December, Sewanee Director of Athletics John Shackelford announced Freitag’s hiring as the 33rd head coach in program history.
Prior to coming to the Mountain, Freitag served the last 11 years as the offensive coordinator at Monmouth College, a Division III institution in Monmouth, Illinois, also his alma mater. He coached the offensive line for 10 years and moved to working with quarterbacks this past season for the Monmouth Scots. The team has posted an 85-21 record over 10 seasons (no games were played in 2020) during Freitag’s tenure on staff.
While pursuing his bachelor’s degree in history, Freitag played football for Monmouth from 2003 to 2006. As an offensive tackle, Freitag led the Scots to an undefeated regular season in 2005, winning their first conference title since 1976. During Freitag’s four years on the team, Monmouth’s athletics web page indicates, the Scots posted a 37-4 record, and he was honored three times as an all-conference player as well as receiving all-region honors during his senior year.
Following his career as a student-athlete, Freitag immediately transitioned into his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Coe College in 2007, where he earned his master’s in teaching. He then worked two years at Augsburg College in Minnesota as the offensive line and special teams coach. From there, he went to Benedictine College as the offensive coordinator before returning to Monmouth for the 2015 season.
“I am honored and excited to be named the next football coach at Sewanee,” Freitag said. “I want to extend my sincere gratitude to Athletic Director John Shackelford, Associate Athletic Director Carrie Austin, and Vice-Chancellor Rob Pearigen for their confidence in me and their support of this program.”
The announcement of Freitag’s hiring follows the sudden and shocking firing of former head Coach Andy McCollum. In early November, McCollum, a former Middle Tennessee State coach, was released. The University has been silent about the reasons behind this decision, and some players say his tenure was marred by more than a losing record.
“Sewanee head football coach Andy McCollum has been relieved of his duties, effective immediately,” stated the announcement of McCollum’s dismissal released by Shackelford on Nov. 10. “As we look ahead, we remain committed to building a program that reflects Sewanee’s values of excellence, integrity, and perseverance on and off the field.”
Adding insult to injury, several assistant coaches left with McCollum, who was reportedly escorted off campus by police after refusing to leave willingly. Following these devastating events, several football players entered the transfer portal, and a couple quit the sport altogether.
As a former player, Freitag told the Purple, he understands how difficult losing a head coach can be–especially while in season. He also empathizes with the remaining players on how difficult it is to lose “brothers” and pride in a sports program. In a very short time frame, Freitag has demonstrated his commitment to building a strong connection with each and every one of his student athletes.
On Dec. 11, the day his hiring was announced, he made the brutal nine-hour drive from Monmouth to Sewanee so he could be introduced to his new team and campus.
“I drove out here Thursday morning, met the team Thursday night,” he said. “I’m glad we got to do introductions before break so they can have some certainty. I met with the whole team individually already, 50-some individual meetings, trying to let the players get to know me a little bit and me get to know them- because they have been through a lot, that’s something I think is super important.”
Poor work-life balance was reportedly a significant issue during McCollum’s three years as head coach of Sewanee football. Some players say poor conditions for the student-athletes led to a decline in mental health and grades for many on the team. Imagine conditions bad enough to make boys, who once dreamed of playing college football, leave the sport behind. I spoke with one of these former squad members, who had played football since the age of 10.
“The main complaints were regarding time outside of football, which is why I left. And as soon as I did, my grades improved almost immediately. It was crazy,” said the former player, who asked for anonymity so he could speak freely about tensions on the team. “I probably had two hours for homework a night, and by then we are all exhausted, so it was impossible.”
The Sewanee Purple asked Coach Freitag how he plans to address these issues.
“We are going to be understanding that there are pressures of school and pressures of football,” he responded. “Again, it’s so important to have relationships so they are also comfortable enough to tell us they are having struggles.”
Remarkably, at every school where Freitag has coached, each of his teams’ GPAs have reportedly been better in season than out of season. “And in regards to work-life balance, it’s about managing the time they do have,” he said. “The biggest thing is getting the guys to utilize academic resources. We have an army of academic resource people at Sewanee, but getting an 18-year-old male to ask someone for help is hard.”
“We are also going to work on operating practices when guys can attend them. And I will definitely lean on alumni staff who have lived the Sewanee student athlete schedule to get that information.”
With a foundation set with his student athletes, Freitag is eager to bring his family to the Mountain. He predicts they will be fully moved in by late January. He and his wife, Amy, also a Monmouth graduate, have two children: a nine-year-old daughter, Etta, and a five-year-old son, Graham.
“They can’t wait to get on campus,” he said. “My family and I are thrilled to join the Sewanee community and make the Domain our home.”
The Sewanee community is also looking forward to having a proven playmaker and leader grounded in liberal arts college athletics on the Mountain.
“We are excited,” Shackelford said. “Joe brings a wealth of competitive Division III experience and is widely known as a strong recruiter, an innovative strategic coordinator, and a player’s coach who has successfully built transformational relationships with his student-athletes.”