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Curt Cignetti
American football player and coach (born 1961) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Curt Cignetti (/kɜːrt sɪɡˈnɛti/ born June 2, 1961) is an American college football coach who is currently serving as the head football coach at Indiana University. He has previously held head coaching positions at James Madison University, Elon University, and Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). He is a five-time conference coach of the year and the 2024 national coach of the year. He is the only college football coach to have started 10–0 with two different teams in consecutive seasons. He achieved this unique distinction with James Madison University in 2023 and Indiana University in 2024.
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Early life and playing career
Cignetti was born June 2, 1961, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Hall-of-Fame coach Frank Cignetti Sr.[2] Cignetti played quarterback for the West Virginia Mountaineers from 1979 to 1982 under head coaches Frank Cignetti Sr. and Don Nehlen.[3][4]
Assistant coaching career
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After graduating from West Virginia, Cignetti began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Pitt in 1983 under Foge Fazio. He has also coached at Davidson College, Rice University, and Temple University.[5]
In 2000, Cignetti joined Chuck Amato's staff at North Carolina State University (NC State). During his tenure, the Wolfpack achieved significant success, including a school-record 11-win season in 2002. In 2003, he coached quarterback Philip Rivers, who earned ACC Player of the Year honors. Over seven seasons, NC State participated in five bowl games, securing victories in four. Notably, in 2006, Cignetti recruited future Super Bowl champion quarterback Russell Wilson to the Wolfpack.[6][7]
In 2007, Cignetti became part of Nick Saban's inaugural coaching staff at the University of Alabama, serving as wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator. During Cignetti's time under Saban at Alabama, the Crimson Tide achieved remarkable success, including a 12–0 regular season in 2008 and a 14–0 national championship season in 2009. During this period, Alabama won 29 consecutive regular-season games. Cignetti played a pivotal role in recruiting and developing key players, such as wide receiver Julio Jones, Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram II, and linebacker Dont'a Hightower. The 2008 recruiting class featured six future first-round NFL Draft selections.[6]
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Head coaching career
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IUP (2011–2016)
When Curt Cignetti became head coach at IUP in 2011, the program was coming off a 4–10 conference record in the previous 2 seasons. In his first season, he revitalized the team, which won six of its final seven games by an average margin of 28 points, finishing 7–3. The following year, IUP won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) title and advanced to the NCAA Regional Finals, ending the season 12–2. In 2013, Cignetti’s team posted a 9–2 record, and he guided IUP to NCAA playoff appearances in both 2015 and 2016. His 2016 team finished 10–2. Across six seasons, Cignetti compiled a 53–17 record at IUP, with three NCAA playoff appearances and two conference championships. On December 31, 2016, he accepted the head coaching position at Elon University.[6][7]
Elon (2017–2018)
At Elon, Cignetti inherited a program with a 4–20 conference record and six consecutive losing seasons. In his first year, the Phoenix turned their fortunes around, winning eight straight games after an opening loss to MAC champion Toledo. The team was ranked as high as sixth nationally and competed against James Madison for the conference championship, earning their first NCAA Playoff berth since 2009. For this turnaround, Cignetti was named Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year award. In 2018, Cignetti led Elon to a historic 27–24 victory over James Madison, snapping JMU's 22-game CAA winning streak and 19-game home winning streak. This marked Elon’s first win over a top-five FCS opponent and helped the team secure back-to-back NCAA playoff appearances for the first time in program history.[8]
James Madison (2019–2023)
Cignetti was named head coach at James Madison on December 14, 2018, guiding the Dukes to a 14–2 record in his first season. Cignetti's Dukes made an appearance in the FCS National Championship game, ultimately falling to North Dakota State in the title matchup.[6][7] In the pandemic-affected 2020 season, shortened and delayed to spring 2021, JMU finished 7–1 and reached the FCS Semifinals. The 2021 season saw further success, as the Dukes finished 12–2 and announced their move from the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) to the Sun Belt Conference. In their first season at the FBS level in 2022, JMU made a seamless transition, finishing 8–3 and earning a share of the Sun Belt East Division title.[6][7]
Indiana (2024–present)
2024 season
Cignetti was named head football coach at Indiana University on November 30, 2023, to replace the recently dismissed Tom Allen.[9] Shortly after his hiring, he drew media attention for his confident remark, telling reporters, "I win. Google me.", when asked about his coaching record.[10] Cignetti guided Indiana to its first 8–0 start since 1967, then to a 9–0 record, marking a program milestone, and finally to a 10–0 start, the best in Indiana football history. The Hoosiers achieved their first-ever 11-win season, highlighted by a victory over defending national champions Michigan, earning the team national recognition, a top-five ranking, and a College Football Playoff berth.[6][11] Indiana finished the season being ranked number ten in the country with an 11–2 record, their season ending with a loss to Notre Dame in the first round of the 2024–25 College Football Playoff.[12]
Indiana University extended Cignetti partway through his first season with a new eight-year contract. The deal doubled his salary to $8 million annually and included commitments to upgrade the football program, such as stadium enhancements and increased athlete and staff compensation.[6]
2025 season
Entering 2025, the Indiana Hoosiers were ranked #20 in the AP Top 25 to open the season.[13] After starting 5–0 and rising to #7 in the rankings, the Hoosiers defeated #3 Oregon by a score of 30–20 at Autzen Stadium.[14] This marked Indiana's first ever win against a top-5 team on the road, and their second ever win against a top-5 team, the first since they defeated Purdue in 1967.[15][16] Following the win, Indiana rose to #3 in the AP poll, the highest ranking in program history.[17] After improving to 7–0, Indiana climbed to #2 in the AP Poll, setting a new all-time high for the program. On October 16, 2025, Cignetti and Indiana signed an eight-year, $93 million contract extension.[18]
Major achievements and program turnarounds
At James Madison, Cignetti guided the Dukes’ transition from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), posting a 52–9 record from 2019 to 2023 and winning three conference titles.[19]
In 2024, his first season at Indiana, the Hoosiers achieved a school-record 11 wins, secured the program’s first College Football Playoff berth, and finished ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press poll.[20]
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Coaching philosophy
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Commentators and players have described Cignetti's programs as emphasizing tempo, physicality, and discipline, with practices designed to be "fast, physical [and] relentless" while remaining "smart, disciplined [and] poised". He frequently frames execution as "one play at a time", with each snap treated independently to build consistency over the course of a game.[21][22]
Reporters covering Indiana's transition under Cignetti have highlighted a deliberate culture reset—professionalism, accountability, and a "winning mindset"—paired with higher practice tempo and tighter organization.[23] Cignetti has also said he prefers efficiency over sheer volume in practice, using fewer of the allowable sessions or hours and focusing on pace and organization to simulate game pressure.[24]
Analysts often connect Cignetti's approach to his time on Nick Saban's Alabama staff, particularly around evaluation, roster construction, and sustaining culture through clear expectations. In 2025, Saban said Indiana's rapid turnaround reflected Cignetti's evaluation and culture work amid frequent roster changes, adding that Cignetti "has done a really good job as a head coach".[25]
National coverage has characterized his public tone and on-field identity as unapologetically aggressive, noting his "attack" ethos and unwillingness to "play nice".[26] Earlier national profiles also traced how his methods and messaging traveled from prior stops to Indiana as part of the program's turnaround.[27]
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Personal life
Cignetti and his wife, Manette, have three children, Curt Jr., Carly Ann, and Natalie Elise.[28] His brother, Frank Jr., also coaches and is offensive coordinator at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He previously served as Pitt offensive coordinator. His father, Frank Sr., coached for the West Virginia Mountaineers from 1976 to 1979, and served as coach of Indiana University of Pennsylvania from 1980 to 2005.[29][30]
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Head coaching record
- James Madison was not eligible for their conference title or post-season play in their first two years of FBS transition while members of the Sun Belt Conference. They tied or had the best record in their division but were technically not division champions due to their transitional restrictions.
- Cignetti left for Indiana before JMU's bowl game
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Records and accomplishments
NCAA Division I
- First NCAA Division I head coach to start 8–0 or better in consecutive seasons at different institutions (James Madison in 2023, 10–0; Indiana in 2024, 10–0)
- First NCAA Division I head coach to start 8–0 or better in three consecutive seasons at different institutions (James Madison in 2023, 10–0; Indiana in 2024, 10–0 & 2025, 8–0)
Indiana
- First head coach to defeat an AP top-five ranked opponent on the road (2025)
- Most head coaching wins in a single season: 11 (2024)
- Most Big Ten Conference head coaching wins in a single season: 8 (2024)
- First head coach to start their tenure with a 4–0 record (2024)
- First head coach to reach double-digit wins in a single season (2024)
- First head coach to reach the College Football Playoff (2024–25)
James Madison
- Most head coaching wins in a single season: 14 (2019)
- Tied with Mike Houston (2016, 2017)
- Most Coastal Athletic Association head coaching wins in a single season: 8 (2019)
- Tied with Mike Houston (2008, 2016, 2017)
- First head coach to reach an NCAA Division I FBS bowl game (2023 Armed Forces Bowl)
Elon
- First head coach to defeat a top-five FCS opponent (October 16, 2018, at No. 2 James Madison)
- First head coach to reach the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs in back-to-back seasons (2017–2018)
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References
External links
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