Indiana University is much better known for its prowess on the basketball court, rather than the gridiron.
But in the midst of the best start to a season in the school’s long history, the athletics department decided to ensure that their first-year head coach was tied down and paid handsomely.
Curt Cignetti arrived in Bloomington after coaching James Madison University to become one of the best schools in the Sun Belt Conference. He hoped to replicate his success there with the Hoosiers in his first season at the helm of a Power 4 conference school.
So far he’s done just that. After going 3-9 the year prior, Indiana is now off to the best start in school history – sitting at 10-0 and currently No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Faced with potentially sustainable success for the first time in decades, the Hoosiers decided to lock up Cignetti an eight-year, $72million contract.
It’s an average of $8m per year with an annual $1m retention bonus.
Indiana University extended football coach Curt Cignetti to an eight-year, $72million deal
That’s nearly double the salary he was initially earning when he signed a six-year, $27million deal – which the school was entirely on the hook for.
It’s unclear what percentage of Cignetti’s new deal will be paid by the school. DailyMail.com has reached out Indiana University for further details.
According to the USA Today Coaches Salary Database, Cignetti’s new deal at $8m would make him the 16th highest paid coach in college football – behind Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables, but ahead of Miami (FL) head coach Mario Cristobal.
Per the Indianapolis Star, Cignetti is now the highest paid employee in the history of the university.
The Star also reported that Cignetti will, ‘receive both significantly improved financial terms and also further assurances around program infrastructure and support.’ Said assurances will likely include, ‘commitments in the form of things like staffing and assistant-coaching salary pools.’
In addition, The Star says that the school is ‘in the planning and financing stages of a substantial Memorial Stadium renovation, one Cignetti can now help shape.’
In a statement released after the announcement, Cignetti said, ‘I am beyond appreciative for the tremendous commitment, confidence and support from (IU) President Pam Whitten and Athletics Director Scott Dolson
‘Manette [Cignetti’s wife] 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.’
Cignetti delivered the Hoosiers faithful their first ever ten-win football season in their history
Now, Indiana fans have a legitimate shot of reaching this season’s College Football Playoff
Under Cignetti, the Hoosiers have won ten games in a season for the first time in school history.
Indiana had previously reached nine wins under coach Bo McMillin in 1945 before going 9-2 in the 1967 season under John Pont.
With Cignetti at the helm, the Hoosiers came away with big wins against Nebraska, Washington, and Michigan.
But their biggest test comes next week when they travel to Columbus to take on Ohio State in a likely top-five matchup.
