Indiana Hires Curt Cignetti as Head Football Coach
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana is hiring James Madison coach Curt Cignetti to be its next head football coach, a source confirmed to HoosiersNow.com on Thursday. Contract details are not known at this time.
Cignetti, 62, comes to Indiana on the heels of an 11-1 season at James Madison, peaking at No. 18 in the AP top-25 poll. Across five seasons, he has a 52-9 record at James Madison, including a 31-4 run in conference play.
“I am very excited to welcome Curt Cignetti as the head football coach at Indiana University,” Scott Dolson, Indiana University Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott, said. “We had a very talented and deep pool of candidates, and Curt stood out thanks to an incredible track record of success over more than four decades in college football. As a head coach he’s succeeded everywhere he’s been, and as an assistant he has been a part of championship cultures while working alongside some of the game’s best coaches. I appreciate the tremendous support throughout this process of Chair Quinn Buckner and the IU Board of Trustees and President Pam Whitten, all of whom were critical in making this day a reality.”
James Madison Dukes head coach Curt Cignetti walks the sideline during a game against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports
“I am excited to lead this program forward and change the culture, mindset, and expectation level of Hoosier football,” Cignetti said. “I want to thank Director of Athletics Scott Dolson and President Pam Whitten, and I look forward to working with both in building something special at IU. Both share my vision and belief that big things are ahead for the IU program.”
Zach Osterman of the Indianapolis Star reported Tuesday that, “Indiana is expected to be able to support its next coach at least $3 million for the name, image and likeness space.”
Cignetti has a winning track record at every stop. As the head coach of James Madison, Elon and Indiana University of Pennsylvania dating back to 2011, Cignetti’s teams had a 119-35 record in 13 seasons, or an average of over nine wins per year.
James Madison experienced immediate, high-level success when Cignetti became head coach. In his first year in 2019, Cignetti went 14-2 overall and won the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) title. James Madison made a run to the Division I FCS National Championship game but ultimately lost to North Dakota State.
That momentum continued in 2020 and 2021, as James Madison added two more CAA titles before losing in the national semifinals in back-to-back years. Under Cignetti, James Madison was an FCS powerhouse, finishing top three in the final coaches poll each year from 2019-21.
Prior to the 2022 season, James Madison accepted an invitation to join the Sun Belt Conference, a prominent moment in the program’s history. That meant the Dukes would no longer compete at the FCS level. Rather, they made the jump to the FBS where they could eventually qualify for bowl games and compete for the College Football Playoff.
But the increase in competition level didn’t stall Cignetti and the Dukes’ success. In its first year at the FBS level, James Madison went 8-3 overall and 6-2 in conference play, good for a share of the Sun Belt East division title.
The Dukes took yet another step forward in 2023 with an 11-1 record, its lone blemish coming in a 26-23 overtime loss to Appalachian State. On Thursday, Cignetti was named Sun Belt Coach of the Year. James Madison quarterback Jordan McCloud was named the conference’s Player of the Year, and defensive lineman Jalen Green was named Defensive Player of the Year.
The NCAA did not allow James Madison to participate in a bowl game after the 2022 regular season as it made the transition from FCS to FBS. But for the first time in program history, the Dukes will compete in a bowl game in 2023. Cignetti plans to coach James Madison in its bowl game, according to a report from Chris Vannini of The Athletic.
James Madison currently ranks first in the FBS in rushing defense (61.5), tackles for loss (9.1) and yards per rush allowed (2.09), and the Dukes are second in sacks (3.75) and blocked punts (2). Cignetti’s defense is 19th in the nation with just 18.5 points allowed per game, while the offense ranks 21st with 35.2 points scored per game.
Prior to James Madison, Cignetti coached Elon, also in the CAA, to a 14-9 record across two seasons. Elon finished in the top 25 each year after losing in the first round of the playoffs.
He also had an impressive run at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a Division II program in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. From 2011-16, Cignetti had a 53-17 overall record and a 33-11 mark in conference play. His team finished in the top 25 in four of his six seasons, including a 12-2 record and a conference title in 2012.
Before becoming a head coach, Cignetti made several stops at power conference schools as a position coach. Entering his first year at Alabama, coach Nick Saban hired Cignetti as his wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator, a role he held from 2007-10. During that time, he coached future NFL receiver Julio Jones. Alabama won the 2009 national championship and was ranked No. 1 overall at some point in three of Cignetti’s four seasons.
Cignetti was the quarterbacks and tight ends coach, as well as the recruiting coordinator at NC State from 2000-06 under head coach Chuck Amato. NC State went 49-37 in that stretch, along with a 4-1 record in bowl games. Cignetti coached Phillip Rivers, the 2003 ACC Player of the Year and future NFL quarterback, throughout his entire NC State career. Rivers threw for 13,484 yards and 95 touchdowns across four seasons. Cignetti also recruited future NFL quarterback Russell Wilson before joining the Alabama staff.
Cignetti’s first power conference job came at Pittsburgh from 1993-99, when he coached quarterbacks and tight ends. Cignetti was first hired at Pittsburgh by former head coach Johnny Majors, then stayed at Pittsburgh for three seasons on Walt Harris’ staff.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., Cignetti played quarterback at West Virginia from 1972-82. His father, Frank Cignetti, is in the College Football Hall of Fame for his 199-77-1 record as the head coach at West Virginia from 1976-79 and IU-Pennsylvania from 1986-2005.
And now, Cignetti will replace Tom Allen as Indiana’s next head football coach.
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