Alabama Coach Nick Saban Endorses New Indiana Coach Curt Cignetti
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana hired James Madison coach Curt Cignetti Thursday to replace Tom Allen as the 30th coach of the Hoosiers' football program.
Cignetti, 62, brings to Bloomington a career-long 119–35 record, including additional head coaching stints at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Elon. James Madison is currently enjoying an 11-1 season under Cignetti, who plans to coach the Dukes in their bowl game, according to a report from Chris Vannini of The Athletic.
He also held various offensive coaching roles at Alabama, NC State, Pittsburgh, Rice, Temple and Davidson dating back to 1983.
Cignetti left a lasting impression on Alabama coach Nick Saban, who gave his seal of approval to the Hoosiers' new coach.
"Having known Curt for what seems like most of his life, I am thrilled for he and Manette and the Indiana fanbase, and am excited for this opportunity for him," Saban said. "I've really enjoyed getting to watch him grow since he was with us at Alabama. He's been successful everywhere he's been and I'm confident he'll enjoy lots of success at Indiana. They're not only getting a great coach, they're also getting a coach who does things the right way. This is a great day for Curt and his family and I couldn't be more proud of him."
When Saban left the Miami Dolphins for Alabama before the 2007 season, he hired Cignetti as his wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator. Cignetti remained in Tuscaloosa through 2010 and helped the Crimson Tide accomplish a 43-11 record in that span.
Alabama won its first national title under Saban in 2009, achieving a 14-0 record. The Crimson Tide also won the Independence Bowl and Capital One Bowl, but lost in the Sugar Bowl. In three of Cignetti's four seasons, Alabama was ranked No. 1 for at least one week.
Cignetti helped develop future NFL star Julio Jones in his role as Alabama's wide receivers coach. Jones' three seasons in Tuscaloosa lined up directly with Cignetti's final three. Racking up 924 receiving yards, Jones was named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2008. He'd go on to total 2,653 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns in a three-year college career.
Following the 2010 season, Jones became the No. 6 overall pick in the NFL Draft, and Cignetti took his first head coaching job at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Related stories on Indiana football
- IU HIRES CURT CIGNETTI: Curt Cignetti, who has coached James Madison to an 11-1 record this year, will replace Tom Allen as the next head football coach at Indiana University. CLICK HERE
- NIL RESOURCES TO AID CIGNETTI'S START: Hoosiers Connect announced a fundraising campaign called 'Back the Rock,' aimed at improving Indiana football's funding for name, image and likeness deals. CLICK HERE
