Curt Cignetti inks contract extension, new terms with IU football after historic season

IU football has reworked a deal with head coach Curt Cignetti that will keep him in Bloomington past his original deal, and provide a raise. Zach Osterman of the IndyStar was the first to report the news.

The news comes on Saturday as Indiana heads into an off weekend with just two games left in the regular season.

Indiana is in the midst of a historic season, sitting at 10-0 and No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings — currently projected to host a first round matchup in Bloomington.

Cignetti has turned around an IU football program that had totaled just nine wins in the last three seasons. Now, Indiana is two wins away from playing in the Big Ten Championship.

“This isn’t a one-hit wonder. When President [Pam] Whitten supported making certain that we made a commitment to football, it’s a long time commitment,” AD Scott Dolson said on the Hoosiers Connect Podcast. “We want to make certain that we can continue to compete, sustain success, and be a proud member of the Big Ten in the best football conference in the country. So we’re committed to continuing to invest the resources in our program to keep things going.”

According to reports, details around the extension revolve around ‘doubling’ Cignetti’s annual salary, an investment in infrastructure and likely a larger pool for Cignetti’s assistant coaches — many of which have been with him since his time at Elon and James Madison.

As for infrastructure, Scott Dolson has been adamant about his desire and goal to continue to improve Memorial Stadium, helping modernize it with the times — and the success of the football program.

“We need to have a vision for Memorial Stadium,” Dolson added. “If you said what’s our biggest need right now, particularly as we’re selling out … the infrastructure at Memorial Stadium isn’t where it needs to be to provide the modern fan experience that we want. We’re looking at that. We had a survey last year. That’s the next big facility need.”

Indiana plays at No. 2 Ohio State next weekend before hosting Purdue to wrap up the regular season.

Below is the full release from IU football

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University and IU Head Football Coach Curt Cignetti have agreed to terms on a new eight-year contract with an average annual compensation of $8 million, as well as an additional annual $1 million retention bonus.  Cignetti’s new contract runs thru Nov. 30, 2032.

“Since arriving on campus, Coach Cignetti has been the architect of one of college football’s greatest turnarounds and has shown the world that IU is also a football school,” said Indiana University President Pamela Whitten. “Coach Cignetti exemplifies IU’s goal to win in all that we do.  The success he has brought to Indiana football is shining a light on all that is amazing about Indiana University.  We are excited that Coach Cignetti and his wonderful family will be a part of the Hoosier Nation for many years to come.”

“I am beyond appreciative for the tremendous commitment, confidence, and support from President Pam Whitten and Athletic Director Scott Dolson. Manette and I love Bloomington and are grateful for how the IU community has embraced us,” said Cignetti.  “I look forward to leading this outstanding program and doing my part to continue the momentum for Hoosier football.”

“After first meeting Coach Cignetti, we were very confident that he was the perfect fit for what we were trying to build with our football program,” said IU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Dolson. “We were confident IU could become a winning program and we love what he’s building here. We love the student-athletes that he’s bringing here. We love how our fanbase has rallied around this team and made Memorial Stadium the place to be on Saturday afternoons. And now, we love the fact that he’s going to be doing all those things right here in Bloomington for a long, long time.”

In his first year in Bloomington, Cignetti has taken a program that won a total of three Big Ten games in the previous three seasons to a level of success that IU football has never enjoyed. The Hoosiers 10-0 start this fall is the best in school history, while the 10 wins represent the first 10-win season in the program’s history.

Indiana’s current No. 5 national ranking, meanwhile, is one spot shy of the school’s all-time best of No. 4 set in both 1945 and 1967. Cignetti has accomplished this with a team that has dominated opponents on both sides of the ball.  IU ranks second nationally in scoring offense (43.9), seventh in scoring defense (13.8), 16^th in total offense (453.2), and third in total defense (255.5).

Cignetti also has the Hoosiers ranked No. 5 in the most recent College Football Playoff rankings, making them well positioned to earn a spot in the inaugural 12-team playoff that will be announced on Dec. 8.

Indiana is in the midst of its second bye week of the season and will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 23, when it travels to Columbus, Ohio, to face No. 2 Ohio State at noon.

SEE ALSO: Scott Dolson says ‘we need to have a vision for Memorial Stadium’ in midst of historic season for IU football

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