Amid speculation that Penn State would be making calls to try to hire Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers have signed the 64-year-old Cignetti to an eight-year extension worth a reported $11.6 million per year.
Cignetti is in his second season with Indiana, going 11-2 in his first year with an appearance in the College Football Playoff. This season, the Hoosiers have improved and are up to No. 3 in the AP top 25 after beating Oregon 30-20 in Autzen Stadium. The Hoosiers are 6-0 and tied for the lead in the Big Ten conference with three wins.
“At Indiana University, we are committed to performing at the highest levels in everything we do, and no one has exemplified that more than Coach Cignetti,” said Indiana University President Pamela Whitten. “Put simply, Cig is a winner. From last year’s College Football Playoff appearance to this year’s top-3 national ranking, the IU Football program’s success has been tremendous. Curt and Manette Cignetti are home in Indiana and we are delighted that the Cignetti family will be Hoosiers for many years to come.”
Cignetti was the Big Ten and national Coach of the Year last season after turning the Hoosiers around, and now will be in Bloomington through the 2033 season.
The Buckeyes don’t have Indiana on the schedule in the regular season, but they currently share the conference lead with the Hoosiers. The two could meet in the Big Ten championship on Dec. 6 in Indianapolis.
This is already the second extension Cignetti has received in his two seasons at Indiana, reflecting how well he has done in turning the program around as quickly as he has.
Cignetti is now the third highest-paid coach in the country behind Kirby Smart of Georgia ($13 million per year) and Ryan Day ($12.5 million per year).
