The Catholic convert, who hopes to lead Notre Dame to its first national football championship since 1988, told reporters this weekend that he attributes the Fighting Irish's success to his players and his faith.

Marcus Freeman took over the program in 2021 after the man who hired him, former Brian Kelly, left for LSU.

That same year, Freeman came to Notre Dame to serve as Kelly's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. According to reports at the time, he had a choice: follow his boss to LSU or stay at Notre Dame.

The world's oldest person is a 117-year-old nun who loves football

On December 3, 2021, Freeman was promoted to head coach at Notre Dame, reinstating the team's tradition of attending Mass together before each home game. That was before he became Catholic.

"I remember being at a Notre Dame football game when I was a recruit, I was in high school and watching the team come out of the cathedral for pregame mass," Freeman told reporters Saturday. I think that's the coolest thing." Atlanta, where the Irish are preparing to face Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship. “I remember watching movies about it.”

The 39-year-old Ohio State graduate looked back on his first year at Notre Dame, recalling that there was no pregame mass.

"So, when I was appointed head coach, I had discussed it with management, about when the decision was made not to have a pre-match mass and what we had to do to change that... To me ... it’s important to change that,” Freeman said.

Although Freeman was raised as a Christian, he was not Catholic when he arrived on campus in 2021.

Pope Francis opens Holy Year at Vatican, more than 32 million visitors expected

Freeman was baptized by the Catholic Church and received his First Communion the following year, according to a Sept. 11, 2022 announcement from St. Pius X Catholic Church in Granger, Indiana.

Team chaplain Father Nate Wells helped Freeman prepare to convert to Catholicism.

“I think being at Notre Dame — it’s a place where you’re encouraged to develop your faith,” Freeman said.

"It's not just in Catholicism. It's the reality that you have faith and belief in something greater than yourself."

“You have to trust beyond evidence and trust beyond understanding…”

The players share the same belief, including quarterback Riley Leonard.

Leonard began his career at Duke and started for the Blue Devils in 2022 and 2023. But an injury forced him to miss time in 2023, and he quickly announced his transfer to Notre Dame for his final season of eligibility.

Click here to subscribe to our lifestyle newsletter

"Notre Dame in the transfer portal was my first and last visit," Riley told reporters Saturday.

Riley has been outspoken about his beliefs. He said he believed God had a plan for him coming to Notre Dame.

"I remember sitting in my room at night praying, like, 'Jesus, Lord, can you give me something, make me an offer?'" Riley said.

"The next day, I woke up and he was in labor."

Riley said Freeman was a humble man who didn't shy away from his beliefs.

For more lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle

"Our players have Bible studies," Freeman told reporters. "I have strong faith... You have to believe beyond evidence, trust beyond knowing, which is another motto of having faith. We're not shy about it. They're not shy about it, and that's great for us important. "

Click here to get the Fox News app

That belief will clearly be on display Monday night as Freeman seeks to become the first Notre Dame coach to hoist a national championship trophy since Lou Holtz himself.

A sign above the east door of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Notre Dame, where the team’s pregame mass was held, reads, “Glory to God, Country, Notre Dame, Eternal.”