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Curt Cignetti

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Curt Cignetti

Curt Cignetti ( born June 2, 1961) is an American college football coach who is the head football coach at Indiana University. He previously served as the head coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) from 2011 to 2016, Elon University from 2017 to 2018, and James Madison University from 2019 to 2023. Cignetti is a five-time conference coach of the year and a two-time national coach of the year. He is the only college football coach to have started 10–0 with two different teams in consecutive seasons, achieving this unique distinction with James Madison University in 2023 and Indiana University in 2024. During his first season at Indiana, he was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year after leading the Hoosiers to a program-record 11 wins and their first-ever College Football Playoff berth. In 2025, he repeated as Big Ten Coach of the Year as Indiana completed the first 12–0 regular season in school history and won their first Big Ten Conference title since 1967.

Infobox

1985
Davidson (QB/WR)
Title
Head coach
Team
Indiana
Conference
Big Ten
Record
24–2
Annual salary
$11.6 million
Born
(1961-06-02) June 2, 1961 (age 64)Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1979–1982
West Virginia
Position
Quarterback
1983–1984
Pittsburgh (GA)
1986–1988
Rice (QB)
1989–1992
Temple (QB)
1993–1999
Pittsburgh (QB/TE)
2000–2006
NC State (QB/TE/RC)
2007–2010
Alabama (WR/RC)
2011–2016
IUP
2017–2018
Elon
2019–2023
James Madison
2024–present
Indiana
Overall
143–37
Tournaments
mw- 0–1 (CFP) 6–5 (NCAA D-I playoffs) 4–3 (NCAA D-II playoffs)
2007–2011
Alabama (WR/RC)

Tables

· Head coaching record
IUP Crimson Hawks (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) (2011–2016)
IUP Crimson Hawks (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) (2011–2016)
Year
IUP Crimson Hawks (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) (2011–2016)
2011
2011
Year
2011
Team
IUP
Overall
7–3
Conference
5–2
Standing
3rd (West)
2012
2012
Year
2012
Team
IUP
Overall
12–2
Conference
6–1
Standing
1st (West)
Bowl/playoffs
L NCAA Division II Quarterfinal
Coaches#
7
2013
2013
Year
2013
Team
IUP
Overall
9–2
Conference
5–2
Standing
2nd (West)
Coaches#
24
2014
2014
Year
2014
Team
IUP
Overall
6–5
Conference
5–4
Standing
5th (West)
2015
2015
Year
2015
Team
IUP
Overall
9–3
Conference
6–1
Standing
T–1st (West)
Bowl/playoffs
L NCAA Division II Second Round
Coaches#
19
2016
2016
Year
2016
Team
IUP
Overall
10–2
Conference
6–1
Standing
2nd (West)
Bowl/playoffs
L NCAA Division II Second Round
Coaches#
12
IUP:
IUP:
Year
IUP:
Team
53–17
Overall
33–11
Elon Phoenix (Colonial Athletic Association) (2017–2018)
Elon Phoenix (Colonial Athletic Association) (2017–2018)
Year
Elon Phoenix (Colonial Athletic Association) (2017–2018)
2017
2017
Year
2017
Team
Elon
Overall
8–4
Conference
6–2
Standing
3rd
Bowl/playoffs
L NCAA Division I First Round
Coaches#
21
AP°
20
2018
2018
Year
2018
Team
Elon
Overall
6–5
Conference
4–3
Standing
6th
Bowl/playoffs
L NCAA Division I First Round
Coaches#
19
AP°
19
Elon:
Elon:
Year
Elon:
Team
14–9
Overall
10–5
James Madison Dukes (Colonial Athletic Association) (2019–2021)
James Madison Dukes (Colonial Athletic Association) (2019–2021)
Year
James Madison Dukes (Colonial Athletic Association) (2019–2021)
2019
2019
Year
2019
Team
James Madison
Overall
14–2
Conference
8–0
Standing
1st
Bowl/playoffs
L NCAA Division I Championship
Coaches#
2
AP°
2
2020–21
2020–21
Year
2020–21
Team
James Madison
Overall
7–1
Conference
3–0
Standing
1st (South)
Bowl/playoffs
L NCAA Division I Semifinal
Coaches#
3
AP°
3
2021
2021
Year
2021
Team
James Madison
Overall
12–2
Conference
7–1
Standing
T–1st
Bowl/playoffs
L NCAA Division I Semifinal
Coaches#
3
AP°
3
James Madison Dukes (Sun Belt Conference) (2022–2023)
James Madison Dukes (Sun Belt Conference) (2022–2023)
Year
James Madison Dukes (Sun Belt Conference) (2022–2023)
2022
2022
Year
2022
Team
James Madison
Overall
8–3
Conference
6–2
Standing
T–1st (East)
2023
2023
Year
2023
Team
James Madison
Overall
11–1
Conference
7–1
Standing
1st (East)
Bowl/playoffs
Armed Forces
Coaches#
24
AP°
25
James Madison:
James Madison:
Year
James Madison:
Team
52–9
Overall
31–4
Indiana Hoosiers (Big Ten Conference) (2024–present)
Indiana Hoosiers (Big Ten Conference) (2024–present)
Year
Indiana Hoosiers (Big Ten Conference) (2024–present)
2024
2024
Year
2024
Team
Indiana
Overall
11–2
Conference
8–1
Standing
T–2nd
Bowl/playoffs
L CFP First Round†
Coaches#
10
AP°
10
2025
2025
Year
2025
Team
Indiana
Overall
13–0
Conference
9–0
Standing
1st
Bowl/playoffs
Rose†
Coaches#
1
AP°
1
Indiana:
Indiana:
Year
Indiana:
Team
24–2
Overall
17–1
Total:
Total:
Year
Total:
Team
143–37
National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth
National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth
Year
National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth
†Indicates CFP / New Years' Six bowl. #Rankings from final Coaches' poll. °Rankings from final AFCA poll for IUP and final STATS poll for Elon and James Madison.
†Indicates CFP / New Years' Six bowl. #Rankings from final Coaches' poll. °Rankings from final AFCA poll for IUP and final STATS poll for Elon and James Madison.
Year
†Indicates CFP / New Years' Six bowl. #Rankings from final Coaches' poll. °Rankings from final AFCA poll for IUP and final STATS poll for Elon and James Madison.
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)
2023
James Madison
11–1
7–1
1st (East)
Armed Forces
24
25
James Madison:
52–9
31–4
Indiana Hoosiers (Big Ten Conference) (2024–present)
2024
Indiana
11–2
8–1
T–2nd
L CFP First Round†
10
10
2025
Indiana
13–0
9–0
1st
Rose†
1
1
Indiana:
24–2
17–1
Total:
143–37
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth
†Indicates CFP / New Years' Six bowl. from final Coaches' poll. °Rankings from final AFCA poll for IUP and final STATS poll for Elon and James Madison.

References

  1. James Madison was not eligible for their conference title or post-season play in their first two years of FBS transition
  2. On November 30, 2023, Cignetti was hired by Indiana before James Madison played in the Armed Forces Bowl.
  3. Indiana University Athletics
    https://iuhoosiers.com/news/2025/10/16/indiana-university-and-football-coach-curt-cignetti-agree-to-new-eight-year-contract-through-2033
  4. The Indianapolis Star
    https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2024/12/03/indiana-footballs-curt-cignetti-wins-2024-big-ten-coach-of-the-year-iu-hoosiers/76736209007/
  5. Bowie, Dustin. "Curt Cignetti named Big Ten Coach of the Year again as Indiana surges to 12–0." The Indianapolis Star. D
  6. "Curt Cignetti wins second consecutive Big Ten Coach of the Year award." Crimson Quarry. December 4, 2025.
  7. IndyStar
    https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/columnists/gregg-doyel/2024/11/20/indiana-football-coach-curt-cignetti-learned-faith-family-football-from-dad-frank-iup-west-virginia/76429220007/
  8. Sports Illustrated
    https://www.si.com/college/westvirginia/football/curt-cignetti-gives-a-shoutout-to-rich-rodriguez-west-virginia-on-pat-mcafee-show
  9. James Madison University Athletics
    https://jmusports.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/curt-cignetti/3322
  10. IUPAthletics.com
    http://www.iupathletics.com/staff.aspx?staff=85
  11. "Forever a basketball school, Curt Cignetti has awakened a 'sleeping giant' of a football program at Indiana"
    https://sports.yahoo.com/forever-a-basketball-school-curt-cignetti-has-awakened-a-sleeping-giant-of-a-football-program-at-indiana-133249231.html
  12. "Curt Cignetti's viral rise to making Indiana a College Football Playoff contender"
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/42487935/curt-cignetti-google-indiana-hoosiers-college-football-playoff
  13. The Times
    http://www.thetimesnews.com/sports/20181006/epic-for-elon-phoenix-takes-down-dukes-in-dramatic-historic-victory
  14. AP News
    https://apnews.com/article/indiana-hoosiers-coach-cignetti-4c72c3c4fe97fc1496b1d9cba8f47396
  15. Sports Illustrated
    https://www.si.com/college/2023/12/23/indiana-curt-cignetti-flex-winning-record-google-me
  16. The State News
    https://statenews.com/article/2024/11/the-rise-of-indiana-football-and-how-msu-can-prepare
  17. The Indianapolis Star
    https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2024/12/08/indiana-football-hoosiers-notre-dame-cfp-college-football-playoffs/76851066007/
  18. The Indianapolis Star
    https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2025/08/04/indiana-football-ranked-preseason-coaches-poll-top-25-us-lmb/85510147007/
  19. WISH-TV
    https://www.wishtv.com/sports/football/iu-football/iu-hoosiers-preseason-ap-poll-2025/
  20. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6709384/2025/10/11/indiana-oregon-score-result/
  21. The Indianapolis Star
    https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2025/10/11/indiana-football-score-today-oregon-stats-likes-dislikes-did-iu-win/86636335007/
  22. The Indianapolis Star
    https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2025/10/11/indiana-football-highest-ever-ranking-ap-coaches-top-25/86653421007/
  23. SI
    https://www.si.com/college-football/new-ap-top-25-indiana-earns-highest-ranking-in-program-history
  24. The Athletic
    https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6723903/2025/10/16/indiana-signs-curt-cignetti-new-contract-penn-state/
  25. USA TODAY
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/bigten/2025/11/29/curt-cignetti-leads-indiana-football-to-first-undefeated-regular-season-big-10-championship-game/87523957007/
  26. AP News
    https://apnews.com/article/indiana-ohio-state-football-big-ten-championship-score-53974c9f265721c0b2e8c6df470e10fa
  27. Reuters
    https://www.reuters.com/sports/indiana-takes-no-1-spot-ap-top-25-first-time-history--flm-2025-12-07/
  28. NFL.com
    https://www.nfl.com/news/college-football-playoff-rankings-2025-alabama-miami-in-notre-dame-out-indiana-no-1
  29. "IU's Curt Cignetti wins Big Ten Coach of the Year for second straight season." WISH-TV. December 3, 2025.
  30. The Athletic
  31. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/42487935/curt-cignetti-google-indiana-hoosiers-college-football-playoff
  32. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/46349443/indiana-curt-cignetti-here-play-nice-not-close-done
  33. IUHoosiers.com
    https://iuhoosiers.com/news/2024/2/8/win-now-cignetti-won-t-wait-on-football-success
  34. Sports Illustrated (Indiana Hoosiers On SI)
    https://www.si.com/college/indiana/football/notes-quotes-curt-cignetti-radio-show-indiana-football-season-opener-old-dominion
  35. Indiana Daily Student
    https://www.idsnews.com/article/2024/08/curt-cignetti-iu-football-winning-mindset
  36. Sports Illustrated (Indiana Hoosiers On SI)
    https://www.si.com/college/indiana/football/nick-saban-curt-cignetti-indiana-football-success-sustainable-college-gameday
  37. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/46349443/indiana-curt-cignetti-here-play-nice-not-close-done
  38. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/42487935/curt-cignetti-google-indiana-hoosiers-college-football-playoff
  39. "Geography Lesson"
    http://www.iup.edu/magazine/page.aspx?id=73661
  40. Sports Illustrated
    https://www.si.com/college/indiana/football/pat-mcafee-show-nick-saban-a-long-time-believer-in-indiana-football-coach-curt-cignetti-01jageg22s9e
  41. The Daily Athenaeum
    https://www.thedaonline.com/sports/football/remembering-former-wvu-head-coach-frank-cignetti-sr/article_8fd9d036-38fe-11ed-a298-4bf44385c7ba.html
  42. Sugar Bowl
    https://allstatesugarbowl.org/news/2024/12/10/robinson-finalists.aspx
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