Indiana is giving Curt Cignetti a new contract after a 10-0 start to his tenure

On By Littum

BLOOMINGTON, I - NOVEMBER 09: Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti looks on during a college football game against the Michigan Wolverines on November 9, 2024 at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Indiana is 10-0 in Curt Cignetti’s first season in Bloomington. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

It didn’t take long for Indiana to give Curt Cignetti a contract extension.

The school announced Saturday morning that it had signed its first-year coach to an eight-year contract extension. Cignetti was hired from James Madison over the offseason and the No. 5 Hoosiers are 10-0 with two games remaining in the regular season.

Cignetti will receive $8 million per season in a deal that basically doubles the annual salary of his original deal.

“Since arriving on campus, Coach Cignetti has been the architect of one of college football’s greatest turnarounds and has shown the world that IU is also a football school,” Indiana President Pamela Whitten said in a statement. “Coach Cigetti exemplifies IU’s goal of winning in everything we do. The success he has brought to Indiana football shines a light on all that is great about Indiana University. We are thrilled that Coach Cigetti and his wonderful family will be a part of the Hoosier Nation for many years to come.”

Indiana has been the biggest surprise of the 2024 college football season so far. The Hoosiers can clinch a spot in the Big Ten title game with a win at Ohio State on Nov. 23. Indiana has never played in the Big Ten championship game. And the Hoosiers had never won 10 games in a single season until 2024.

Cignetti overtook the overview through the transfer portal in the offseason. The group of new players included quarterback Kurtis Rourke from Ohio. Rourke has completed nearly 72% of his passes for over 2,400 yards thus far and is averaging just over 10 yards per carry. throw. He has also thrown just four interceptions to 21 TD passes.

The Hoosiers’ success this season also means Cignetti’s remarkable coaching streak continues. He has never coached a team with a losing record since becoming a college football executive in 2011. Cignetti was hired by IUP 13 years ago and went 53-17 with the Crimson Hawks. He then went 14-9 in two seasons at Elon before taking over at James Madison in 2019.

The Dukes were 33-5 in three seasons at the FCS level, reaching the semifinals in each of those seasons. James Madison moved up to the top level of college football in 2022 and immediately went 8-3, although not eligible for a bowl game. The Dukes were 11-1 in 2023 under Cignetti and went to the Armed Forces Bowl.