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Curt Cignetti

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Curt Cignetti
Cignetti in 2024
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamIndiana
ConferenceBig Ten
Record11–1
Annual salary$8 million[1]
Biographical details
Born (1961-06-02) June 2, 1961 (age 63)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Playing career
1979–1982West Virginia
Position(s)Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1983–1984Pittsburgh (GA)
1985Davidson (QB/WR)
1986–1988Rice (QB)
1989–1992Temple (QB)
1993–1999Pittsburgh (QB/TE)
2000–2006NC State (QB/TE/RC)
2007–2010Alabama (WR/RC)
2011–2016IUP
2017–2018Elon
2019–2023James Madison
2024–presentIndiana
Head coaching record
Overall130–36
Tournaments
  • 0–0 (CFP)
  • 6–5 (NCAA D-I playoffs)
  • 4–3 (NCAA D-II playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Awards

Curt Cignetti (born June 2, 1961) is an American football coach and former quarterback, 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.

Playing career

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Cignetti was a two-year letterman at West Virginia University.[2] He was listed as a 6' 3" 200-lb quarterback.[3] As a scout team quarterback, assistant coach Nick Saban recalled Cignetti would disregard the scout team cue cards and throw passes where he wanted. Saban remembered, "He was such a competitive guy, he wanted to beat the defense. He'd throw it wherever he thought he had the best chance to make a play."[1]

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.[2]

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.[1][4]

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. Under his guidance, 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, which he helped assemble, featured six future first-round NFL Draft selections.[1][4]

Cignetti's tenure at Alabama provided him with a comprehensive understanding of program building, encompassing structure, organization, practice methodologies, in-game strategies, and maintaining high performance levels during periods of success. This experience significantly influenced his coaching philosophy, emphasizing process, accountability, and continuous improvement.[1][4]

Head coaching career

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IUP (2011–2016)

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When Curt Cignetti became head coach at IUP in 2011, the program was coming off a 4–10 conference record. 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.[1][4]

Elon (2017–2018)

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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.[5]

James Madison (2019–2023)

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Cignetti was named head coach at James Madison on December 14, 2018. In his first season, he orchestrated a dramatic turnaround, leading the Dukes to a 14–2 record—a seven-game improvement over the previous year—and an appearance in the FCS National Championship game, where they fell to North Dakota State.[1][4] In the pandemic-affected 2020 season, delayed and shortened 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.[1][4]

Indiana (2024–present)

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Cignetti was named head football coach at Indiana University on November 30, 2023, to replace the recently dismissed Tom Allen.[6] His tenure began with the daunting challenge of overcoming low expectations, as media voters had predicted Indiana to finish 17th out of 18 teams in the Big Ten. In response, during one of his first press conferences, when asked how he planned to appeal to incoming players, Cignetti confidently responded, "It's pretty simple. I win," before pausing and adding, "Google me."[7] Cignetti’s bold demeanor set the tone for a historic first season with the Hoosiers. He guided the team 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.[1][8]

Recognizing his transformative impact, Indiana University rewarded Cignetti partway through the 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.[1]

Coaching philosophy

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Curt Cignetti's coaching philosophy reflects a disciplined, detail-oriented approach shaped by his experiences, including a formative four-year stint under Nick Saban, which he describes as a "doctorate-level course" in program building. He emphasizes structure, organization, and a commitment to excellence, focusing not only on practice and in-game strategy but also on maintaining a culture of accountability and high standards—even during sustained success. Central to his philosophy is a relentless drive to keep players and staff motivated, ensuring complacency never sets in.[1]

Cignetti adopts much of Saban's vocabulary and mindset, frequently referencing concepts like "process," "accountability," and "standards." He stresses the importance of improving daily and maintaining a sharp mental approach. As a demanding leader, he prioritizes precision and expects excellence, mirroring the exacting nature of his former mentor. His methodical and structured coaching style has been instrumental in transforming programs, instilling discipline, and achieving sustained success across multiple levels of college football.[1]

Personal life

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Cignetti and his wife, Manette, have three children, Curt Jr., Carly Ann, and Natalie Elise. Cignetti's father, Frank Cignetti Sr., won 199 games as a head coach at West Virginia University and IUP and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.[9] His brother, Frank Jr., also coaches and was most recently the offensive coordinator at Pittsburgh.

Head coaching record

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
IUP Crimson Hawks (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) (2011–2016)
2011 IUP 7–3 5–2 3rd (West)
2012 IUP 12–2 6–1 1st (West) L NCAA Division II Quarterfinal 7
2013 IUP 9–2 5–2 2nd (West) 24
2014 IUP 6–5 5–4 5th (West)
2015 IUP 9–3 6–1 T–1st (West) L NCAA Division II Second Round 19
2016 IUP 10–2 6–1 2nd (West) L NCAA Division II Second Round 12
IUP: 53–17 33–11
Elon Phoenix (Colonial Athletic Association) (2017–2018)
2017 Elon 8–4 6–2 3rd L NCAA Division I First Round 21 20
2018 Elon 6–5 4–3 6th L NCAA Division I First Round 19 19
Elon: 14–9 10–5
James Madison Dukes (Colonial Athletic Association) (2019–2021)
2019 James Madison 14–2 8–0 1st L NCAA Division I Championship 2 2
2020–21 James Madison 7–1 3–0 1st (South) L NCAA Division I Semifinal 3 3
2021 James Madison 12–2 7–1 T–1st L NCAA Division I Semifinal 3 3
James Madison Dukes (Sun Belt Conference) (2022–2023)
2022 James Madison 8–3 6–2 T–1st (East)[a]
2023 James Madison 11–1 7–1 1st (East)[a] Armed Forces[b]
James Madison: 52–9 31–4
Indiana Hoosiers (Big Ten Conference) (2024–present)
2024 Indiana 11–1 8–1 T–2nd
Indiana: 11–1 8–1
Total: 130–36
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth
  • #Rankings from final Coaches' poll.
  • °Rankings from final AFCA poll for IUP and final STATS poll for Elon and James Madison.
  1. ^ a b 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.
  2. ^ Cignetti left for Indiana before JMU's bowl game

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Dellenger, Ross (November 20, 2024). "Forever a basketball school, Curt Cignetti has awakened a 'sleeping giant' of a football program at Indiana". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Staff Directory: Curt Cignetti". IUPAthletics.com. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  3. ^ "WVUStats - Curt Cignetti". www.wvustats.com. West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Rittenberg, Adam. "Curt Cignetti's viral rise to making Indiana a College Football Playoff contender". ESPN. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  5. ^ Smith, Adam. "EPIC FOR ELON: Phoenix takes down Dukes in dramatic, historic victory". The Times. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  6. ^ Marot, Michael (November 30, 2023). "Indiana Hoosiers agree to deal with Curt Cignetti as new football coach". AP News. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  7. ^ Capurso, Tim (December 23, 2023). "Indiana's Curt Cignetti Makes Ultimate Flex About Winning Record: 'Google Me'". SI.com. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  8. ^ Niziolek, Michael. "Indiana football will play Notre Dame in College Football Playoff first round". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  9. ^ Bob Fulton. "Geography Lesson". IUP Magazine. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
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