Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti accepts new contract, raise

On By Littum

BLOOMINGTON – According to an IndyStar source, Indiana and football coach Curt Cignetti has agreed to a new contract that will make him the highest-paid employee in university history.

Cignetti will receive both significantly improved financial terms and also additional assurances around program infrastructure and support. Those insurances likely include liabilities in the form of things like personnel and assistant-coaching salary pools.

IU is also in the planning and financing stages of a major renovation of Memorial Stadium, one Cignetti can now help shape.

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“I am beyond grateful for the tremendous commitment, trust and support of (IU) President Pam Whitten and Director of Athletics Scott Dolson,” Cignetti said in a press release confirming his freshman terms. “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 of Hoosier football.”

Cignetti’s new deal will extend his stay in Bloomington beyond the original terms agreed to upon his departure from James Madison last winter. That contract ran through 2029 and guaranteed Cignetti $4.5 million in annual compensation, with that number increasing via built-in raises over the life of the deal.

Officially, Cignetti will sign a new contract that lasts eight years and is worth an average annual compensation of $8 million. He will also receive an annual retention bonus of $1 million. A year-by-year breakdown of Cignetti’s compensation was not immediately available.

The contract runs through November 30, 2032. IndyStar understands that Cignetti is still in line to receive the bonuses earned from this season’s performances, additions that already total $600,000 and could improve further.

“After the first meeting with Coach Cignetti,” IU Athletic Director Scott Dolson said in a statement released Saturday, “we were very confident that he was a perfect fit for what we were trying to build with our football program. We were confident that IU could be a winning program and we love what he’s building here.”

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Cignetti’s first year in Bloomington has been a whirlwind Hoosiers already sets program records for most wins (10) and best start (10-0) in a single campaign. They are in the catbird seat for a spot in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, ranked No. 5 in last week’s poll, and they’ll stay in the Big Ten title race with an upset win at Ohio State next Saturday.

Cignetti, who is the leading candidate for both Big Ten and national coach of the year, has been central to this turnaround. Bringing a significant portion of his staff, as well as several players, with him from James Madison, Cignetti immediately transformed a floundering Indiana program into one of the most two-way dominant teams in the country.

Becoming more consistently competitive in football has been a priority for both Dolson and Whitten since taking their respective positions in 2020 and 2021. Retaining a coach who is already enjoying success never before seen in Indiana signals their intent to remain keep pushing the crossbar upwards.

“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,” Whitten said in the release. “Coach Cignetti 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 Cignetti and his wonderful family will be a part of the Hoosier Nation for many years to come.”

How much is Curt Cignetti’s new contract?

Cignetti’s new eight-year contract is worth an average annual compensation of $8 million. He will also receive an annual retention bonus of $1 million. A year-by-year breakdown of Cignetti’s compensation was not immediately available.

The contract runs through November 30, 2032. IndyStar understands that Cignetti is still in line to receive the bonuses earned from this season’s performances, additions that already total $600,000 and could improve further.

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