Indiana University is not traditionally known for football dominance. Generally considered a “basketball school,” the Hoosiers have only finished three football seasons with a record above .500 since 1995. However, the tides have turned in Bloomington, and there is one man to thank – Head Coach Curt Cignetti.
Since assuming leadership of the program, the Indiana Hoosiers have been unstoppable and are in the midst of their best start in school history. Sporting a 10-0 record and a No. 5 rank in the latest AP Top 25 College Football Poll, Cignetti has been rewarded by the university with a long-term extension through 2032. The former Sun Belt Coach of the Year will earn approximately $8M per year along with an annual $1M retention bonus as he looks to lead the Hoosiers to what could be their first Big Ten Championship since 1967.
“I am beyond appreciative for the tremendous commitment, confidence, and support from President Pam Whitten and Athletic Director Scott Dolson,” said Cignetti. “Manette and I love Bloomington and are grateful for how the IU community has embraced us. I look forward to leading this outstanding program and doing my part to continue the momentum for Hoosier football.”
This positive sentiment was echoed by the Scott Dolson, who stated that “after first meeting Coach Cignetti, we were very confident that he was the perfect fit for what we were trying to build with our football program.” “We were confident IU could become a winning program and we love what he’s building here,” he continued. “We love the student-athletes that he’s bringing here. We love how our fanbase has rallied around this team and made Memorial Stadium the place to be on Saturday afternoons. And now, we love the fact that he’s going to be doing all those things right here in Bloomington for a long, long time.”
While the Hoosiers are currently undefeated, they will face their toughest test yet next week as they head on the road to face the No. 2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. Coming off the heals of two big conference wins against Michigan and Michigan State, Cignetti will look to keep the vibes high in Columbus, Ohio and beyond to a potential College Football Playoff berth.
Resources:
- Cignetti Inks Eight-Year Contract Thru 2032 [IUHoosiers.com]
