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{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1961)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox college coach {{Infobox college coach
| name = Curt Cignetti | name = Curt Cignetti
| image = | image = File:Curt-cignetti.jpg
| caption = Cignetti in 2024
| alt =
| current_title = ]
| caption =
| sport = ] | current_team = ]
| current_conference = ]
| current_title = ]
| current_record = 11–2 <!-- As of games through 12/20/24-->
| current_team = ]
| contract = $8 million<ref name="Dellenger2024" />
| current_conference = ]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|6|2}}
| current_record = 7–3 ({{Winning percentage|7|3}})
| birth_place = ], U.S.
| contract =
| death_date =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|06|02|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = | death_place =
| player_years1 = 1979–1982
| death_date =
| player_team1 = ]
| death_place =
| player_positions = ]
| player_years = 1979&ndash;1982
| coach_years1 = 1983–1984
| player_teams = ]
| coach_team1 = ] (])
| player_positions = ]
| coach_years2 = 1985
| coach_years = 1983–1984<br>1985<br>1986–1988<br>1989–1992<br>1993–1999<br>2000–2006<br>2007–2010<br>2011–present
| coach_team2 = ] (QB/WR)
| coach_teams = ] (])<br>] (QB/WR)<br>] (QB)<br>] (QB)<br>] (QB/TE)<br>] (QB/TE/RC)<br>] (WR/RC)<br>]
| coach_years3 = 1986–1988
| admin_years =
| coach_team3 = ] (QB)
| admin_teams =
| coach_years4 = 1989–1992
| overall_record = 7–3 ({{Winning percentage|7|3}})
| coach_team4 = ] (QB)
| bowl_record =
| coach_years5 = 1993–1999
| tournament_record =
| coach_team5 = Pittsburgh (QB/TE)
| CFbDWID =
| coach_years6 = 2000–2006
| championships =
| coach_team6 = ] (QB/TE/RC)
| awards =
| coach_years7 = 2007–2010
| coach_team7 = ] (WR/RC)
| coach_years8 = 2011–2016
| coach_team8 = ]
| coach_years9 = 2017–2018
| coach_team9 = ]
| coach_years10 = 2019–2023
| coach_team10 = ]
| coach_team11 = ]
| coach_years11 = 2024–present
| overall_record = 130–37 <!-- As of games through 12/20/24 -->
| bowl_record = 0–1
| tournament_record = {{plainlist|
* 0–1 (])
* 6–5 (NCAA D-I playoffs)
* 4–3 (NCAA D-II playoffs)
}}
| championships = {{plainlist|
* 2 ] (2022, 2023)
* 1 ] (2012)
* 2 ] (2012, 2015)
* 3 ] (2019–2021)
* 1 ] (2020)
}}
| awards = {{plainlist|
* ] (2024)
* ] (2024)
* ] (2024)
* ] (2024)
* ] (2024)
* ] (2024)
* ] (2024)
* ] (2023)
* ] Coach of the Year (2012)
* ] Coach of the Year (2017)
}}
| coaching_records = | coaching_records =
| CFBHOF_year =
| CFBHOF_id =
}} }}


'''Curt Cignetti''' {{IPA|hns|kɜːrt sɪɡˈnɛti|pron}}
'''Curt Cignetti''' (born June 2, 1961) is an ] coach who is currently the head coach for the ] of ], a position previously held by his father ]<ref name="CignettiTCL">{{cite news |title=Cignetti to be named IUP coach |url=http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20110120/news/110129964 |first=Tommy |last=Deas |newspaper=The Tuscaloosa News |date=January 21, 2011 |accessdate=January 21, 2011}}</ref>
(born June 2, 1961) is an ] coach and former quarterback, currently serving as the head football coach at ]. He has previously held head coaching positions at ], ], and ] (IUP). He is a five-time conference coach of the year and the 2024 ].


==Playing career== ==Playing career==
Cignetti was a two-year letterman at ]. He won the Lewis D. Meisel Award for academic excellence and the A.C. Whitey Gwynn Award for spirit and character that especially contributed to team success.<ref name="bio">{{cite web |url=http://www.iupathletics.com/staff.aspx?staff=85&path=football&tab=coachingstaff |title=Staff Directory: Curt Cignetti |author=IUP Athletics |publisher=IUPAthletics.com |accessdate=January 30, 2011}}</ref> Cignetti was a two-year letterman at ]. He played in 1 game and rushed for 1 yard. He also passed for 250 yards in one game. <ref>{{cite web |title=WVUStats - Curt Cignetti|url=http://www.wvustats.com/sport/football/player/283 |website=www.wvustats.com |publisher=West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics |access-date=16 October 2024}}</ref>


==Coaching career== ==Assistant coaching career==
After graduating from ], Cignetti also coached at the University of Pittsburgh for ] coach ]. He began his coaching career as a ] at Pitt in 1983 under ]. He has also coached at Davidson College, Rice University, and Temple University.<ref name="bio"/> After graduating from ], Cignetti began his coaching career as a ] at ] in 1983 under ]. He has also coached at Davidson College, Rice University, and Temple University.<ref name="bio">{{Cite web |title=Staff Directory: Curt Cignetti |url=http://www.iupathletics.com/staff.aspx?staff=85 |access-date=January 30, 2011 |website=IUPAthletics.com}}</ref>


In 2000, Cignetti joined ]'s staff at ] (NC State). During his tenure, the Wolfpack achieved significant success, including a school-record 11-win season in 2002. In 2003, he coached quarterback ], 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 ] to the Wolfpack.<ref name="Dellenger2024" /><ref name="Rittenberg2024">{{cite news |last1=Rittenberg |first1=Adam |title=Curt Cignetti's viral rise to making Indiana a College Football Playoff contender |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/42487935/curt-cignetti-google-indiana-hoosiers-college-football-playoff |access-date=23 November 2024 |agency=ESPN}}</ref>
After his second stint at Pittsburgh, Cignetti spent seven years at ]. In 2003, Cignetti coached ] Player of the Year ]. Rivers went on to be the 4th player picked in the NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.giantsfootballblog.com/2009/11/05/philip-rivers-finally-makes-it-to-ny/ |title=Philip Rivers finally makes it to NY |publisher=giantsfootballblog.com |date=November 5, 2009 |accessdate=January 30, 2011}}</ref> While there, the Wolfpack set a school record for wins in 2002 with 11 single-season victories, and also participated in five bowl games in seven years.


In 2007, Cignetti became part of ]'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 ], Heisman Trophy winner ], and linebacker ]. The 2008 recruiting class featured six future first-round ] selections.<ref name="Dellenger2024">{{cite news |last1=Dellenger |first1=Ross |title=Forever a basketball school, Curt Cignetti has awakened a 'sleeping giant' of a football program at Indiana |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/forever-a-basketball-school-curt-cignetti-has-awakened-a-sleeping-giant-of-a-football-program-at-indiana-133249231.html |access-date=23 November 2024 |publisher=Yahoo! Sports |date=20 November 2024}}</ref>
Cignetti was an original staff member of ] coaching staff at ]. The ] won the ] in 2009 and was back-to-back ] in 2008 and 2009. During this span, Alabama won 29 regular season games in a row.


==Head coaching career==
Cignetti coached the two leading wide receivers in school history at Alabama, ] and ]. Hall broke school records for catches and yards with 67 receptions for 1,005 yards. In 2010, Jones broke Halls regular season record and finished out the season with 78 catches for 1,133 yards and as first-team All-SEC in 2010. On January 21, 2011, Cignetti was named to replace ] as IUP's 11th head football coach.<ref name="CignettiTCL"/><ref>{{cite news |title=IUP names Curt Cignetti football coach |author=Dave Mackall |url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_719266.html |newspaper=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |date=January 22, 2011 |accessdate=January 30, 2011}}</ref>
===IUP (2011–2016)===
When Curt Cignetti became head coach at IUP in 2011, the program was coming off a 4–10 conference record in the previous 2 seasons. 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.<ref name="Dellenger2024" /><ref name="Rittenberg2024" />

===Elon (2017–2018)===
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 ] (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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Adam |title=EPIC FOR ELON: Phoenix takes down Dukes in dramatic, historic victory |language=en |work=The Times |url=http://www.thetimesnews.com/sports/20181006/epic-for-elon-phoenix-takes-down-dukes-in-dramatic-historic-victory |access-date=October 28, 2018}}</ref>

===James Madison (2019–2023)===
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.<ref name="Dellenger2024" /><ref name="Rittenberg2024" /> In the ]-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 ] (CAA) to the ]. 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.<ref name="Dellenger2024" /><ref name="Rittenberg2024" />

===Indiana (2024–present)===
====2024 season====
{{See also|2024 Indiana Hoosiers football team}}

Cignetti was named head football coach at Indiana University on November 30, 2023, to replace the recently dismissed ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marot |first=Michael |date=November 30, 2023 |title=Indiana Hoosiers agree to deal with Curt Cignetti as new football coach |url=https://apnews.com/article/indiana-hoosiers-coach-cignetti-4c72c3c4fe97fc1496b1d9cba8f47396 |access-date=December 7, 2023 |website=AP News}}</ref> Cignetti guided Indiana 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 ] berth.<ref name="Dellenger2024" /><ref name="IU CFP">{{cite web |last1=Niziolek |first1=Michael |title=Indiana football will play Notre Dame in College Football Playoff first round |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2024/12/08/indiana-football-hoosiers-notre-dame-cfp-college-football-playoffs/76851066007/ |website=The Indianapolis Star |access-date=8 December 2024}}</ref>

Indiana University extended Cignetti partway through his 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.<ref name="Dellenger2024" />

==Personal life==
Cignetti and his wife, Manette, have three children, Curt Jr., Carly Ann, and Natalie Elise.<ref name="geo">{{Cite web |last=Bob Fulton |title=Geography Lesson |url=http://www.iup.edu/magazine/page.aspx?id=73661 |access-date=January 30, 2011 |publisher=IUP Magazine}}</ref> His brother, ], also coaches and was most recently the offensive coordinator at ].


==Head coaching record== ==Head coaching record==
{{CFB Yearly Record Start |type = coach |team = |conf = |bowl = |poll = no}} {{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | conf = | bowl = | poll = both | poll1 = Coaches | poll2 = AP}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead {{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = ] | name = ]
| conf = ] | conf = ]
| startyear = 2011 | startyear = 2011
| endyear = | endyear = 2016
}} }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry {{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| year = ]
| championship =
| year = 2011
| name = IUP | name = IUP
| overall = 7–3 | overall = 7–3
| conference = 5–2 | conference = 5–2
| confstanding = 3rd <small>(West)</small> | confstanding = 3rd {{Small|(West)}}
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = ]
| name = IUP
| overall = 12–2
| conference = 6–1
| confstanding = 1st {{Small|(West)}}
| bowlname = ]
| bowloutcome = L
| ranking = 7
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| year = ]
| name = IUP
| overall = 9–2
| conference = 5–2
| confstanding = 2nd {{Small|(West)}}
| ranking = 24
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| year = ]
| name = IUP
| overall = 6–5
| conference = 5–4
| confstanding = 5th {{Small|(West)}}
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = division
| year = ]
| name = IUP
| overall = 9–3
| conference = 6–1
| confstanding = T–1st {{Small|(West)}}
| bowlname = ]
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 19
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| year = ]
| name = IUP
| overall = 10–2
| conference = 6–1
| confstanding = 2nd {{Small|(West)}}
| bowlname = ]
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 12
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = IUP
| overall = 53–17
| confrecord = 33–11
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = ]
| conf = ]
| startyear = 2017
| endyear = 2018
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| year = ]
| name = ]
| overall = 8–4
| conference = 6–2
| confstanding = 3rd
| bowlname = ]
| bowloutcome = L
| ranking = 21
| ranking2 = 20
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| year = ]
| name = ]
| overall = 6–5
| conference = 4–3
| confstanding = 6th
| bowlname = ]
| bowloutcome = L
| ranking = 19
| ranking2 = 19
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Elon
| overall = 14–9
| confrecord = 10–5
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = ]
| conf = ]
| startyear = 2019
| endyear = 2021
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = ]
| name = ]
| overall = 14–2
| conference = 8–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = ]
| bowloutcome = L
| ranking = 2
| ranking2 = 2
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = ]
| name = ]
| overall = 7–1
| conference = 3–0
| confstanding = 1st {{Small|(South)}}
| bowlname = ]
| bowloutcome = L
| ranking = 3
| ranking2 = 3
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = ]
| name = ]
| overall = 12–2
| conference = 7–1
| confstanding = T–1st
| bowlname = ]
| bowloutcome = L
| ranking = 3
| ranking2 = 3
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = ]
| conf = ]
| startyear = 2022
| endyear = 2023
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = division
| year = ]
| name = ]
| overall = 8–3
| conference = 6–2
| confstanding = T–1st {{small|(East)}}{{efn|name=Div|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.|group=record}}
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = division
| year = ]
| name = ]
| overall = 11–1
| conference = 7–1
| confstanding = 1st {{small|(East)}}{{efn|name=Div|group=record}}
| bowlname = ]{{efn|name=JMU|Cignetti left for Indiana before JMU's bowl game|group=record}}
| bowloutcome =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = James Madison
| overall = 52–9
| confrecord = 31–4
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = ]
| conf = ]
| startyear = 2024
| endyear =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = ]
| name = ]
| overall = 11–2
| conference = 8–1
| confstanding = T–2nd
| bowlname = ]
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl = yes
| ranking = 10
| ranking2 = 10
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = ]
| name = ]
| overall = 0–0
| conference = 0–0
| confstanding =
| bowlname = | bowlname =
| bowloutcome = | bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl = | bcsbowl =
| ranking = no | ranking =
| ranking2 = no | ranking2 =
}} }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal {{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = IUP | name = Indiana
| overall = 7–3 | overall = 11–2
| confrecord = 5–2 | confrecord = 8–1
}} }}
{{CFB Yearly Record End {{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 7–3 | overall = 130–37 <!-- As of games through 12/20/24 -->
| bcs = no | yearstart = 2024
| poll = no | yearend =
| polltype = | poll = two
| polltype2 = Rankings from final AFCA poll for IUP and final STATS poll for Elon and James Madison
| legend = no
| polltype = Rankings from final Coaches' poll

}} }}
{{notelist|group=record}}


==Records and accomplishments==
==Personal life==
===NCAA Division I===
Cignetti's father, ], won 199 games as a head coach at ] and ].<ref name="geo">{{cite web |url=http://www.iup.edu/magazine/page.aspx?id=73661 |title=Geography Lesson |author=Bob Fulton |publisher=IUP Magazine |accessdate=January 30, 2011}}</ref> At IUP, the elder Cignetti had thirteen ten-win seasons. Curt Cignetti’s brother, ], also coaches football, and currently serves as the ] for the ].
* First NCAA Division I head coach to start 8–0 or better in consecutive seasons at different institutions (], 10–0; ], 10–0)

===Indiana===
* Most head coaching wins in a single season: 11 (2024)
* Most ] head coaching wins in a single season: 8 (2024)
* First head coach to start their tenure with a 4–0 record (2024)
* First head coach to reach double-digit wins in a single season (2024)
* First head coach to reach the ] (])

===James Madison===
* Most head coaching wins in a single season: 14 (2019)
** Tied with ] (2016, 2017)
* Most ] head coaching wins in a single season: 8 (2019)
** Tied with ] (2008, 2016, 2017)
* First head coach to reach an ] ] (])

===Elon===
* First head coach to defeat a top-five FCS opponent (October 16, 2018, at No. 2 ])
* First head coach to reach the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs in back-to-back seasons (]–])


==References== ==References==
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==External links== ==External links==
* *
*
*
*


{{Big Ten Conference football coach navbox}}
{{Navboxes
| list =
{{IUP Crimson Hawks football coach navbox}} {{IUP Crimson Hawks football coach navbox}}
{{Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football coach navbox}} {{Elon Phoenix football coach navbox}}
{{James Madison Dukes football coach navbox}}
{{Indiana Hoosiers football coach navbox}}
{{2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football navbox}} {{2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football navbox}}
{{Home Depot Coach of the Year}}

{{Associated Press College Football Coach of the Year Award}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see ]. -->
{{AFCA Coach of the Year}}
| NAME = Cignetti, Curt
{{Walter Camp Coach of the Year}}
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
{{Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year}}
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = ] player and coach
{{The Sporting News College Football Coach of the Year}}
| DATE OF BIRTH = June 2, 1961
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}} }}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cignetti, Curt}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Cignetti, Curt}}
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Latest revision as of 14:40, 22 January 2025

American football player and coach (born 1961)

Curt Cignetti
Cignetti in 2024
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamIndiana
ConferenceBig Ten
Record11–2
Annual salary$8 million
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
Overall130–37
Bowls0–1
Tournaments
  • 0–1 (CFP)
  • 6–5 (NCAA D-I playoffs)
  • 4–3 (NCAA D-II playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Awards

Curt Cignetti pronounced [kɜːrt sɪɡˈnɛti] (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

Cignetti was a two-year letterman at West Virginia University. He played in 1 game and rushed for 1 yard. He also passed for 250 yards in one game.

Assistant coaching career

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.

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.

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 featured six future first-round NFL Draft selections.

Head coaching career

IUP (2011–2016)

When Curt Cignetti became head coach at IUP in 2011, the program was coming off a 4–10 conference record in the previous 2 seasons. 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.

Elon (2017–2018)

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.

James Madison (2019–2023)

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. 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.

Indiana (2024–present)

2024 season

See also: 2024 Indiana Hoosiers football team

Cignetti was named head football coach at Indiana University on November 30, 2023, to replace the recently dismissed Tom Allen. Cignetti guided Indiana 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.

Indiana University extended Cignetti partway through his 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.

Personal life

Cignetti and his wife, Manette, have three children, Curt Jr., Carly Ann, and Natalie Elise. His brother, Frank Jr., also coaches and was most recently the offensive coordinator at Pittsburgh.

Head coaching record

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
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 0–0 0–0
Indiana: 11–2 8–1
Total: 130–37
      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.
  1. ^ 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

Records and accomplishments

NCAA Division I

Indiana

  • Most head coaching wins in a single season: 11 (2024)
  • Most Big Ten Conference head coaching wins in a single season: 8 (2024)
  • First head coach to start their tenure with a 4–0 record (2024)
  • First head coach to reach double-digit wins in a single season (2024)
  • First head coach to reach the College Football Playoff (2024–25)

James Madison

Elon

  • First head coach to defeat a top-five FCS opponent (October 16, 2018, at No. 2 James Madison)
  • First head coach to reach the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs in back-to-back seasons (2017–2018)

References

  1. ^ 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. "WVUStats - Curt Cignetti". www.wvustats.com. West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  3. "Staff Directory: Curt Cignetti". IUPAthletics.com. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  4. ^ 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. Niziolek, Michael. "Indiana football will play Notre Dame in College Football Playoff first round". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  8. Bob Fulton. "Geography Lesson". IUP Magazine. Retrieved January 30, 2011.

External links

Head football coaches of the Big Ten Conference
Links to related articles
IUP Crimson Hawks head football coaches
Elon Phoenix head football coaches
James Madison Dukes head football coaches

# denotes interim head coach

Indiana Hoosiers head football coaches

# denotes interim head coach

2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football—consensus national champions
Head coach
Nick Saban
Assistant coaches
Burton Burns
Curt Cignetti
Scott Cochran
Bo Davis
Mike Groh
Jim McElwain
Kevin Garver
Joe Judge
Joe Pendry
Jeremy Pruitt
Freddie Roach
Rob Sale
Glenn Schumann
Kirby Smart
Sal Sunseri
Bobby Williams
James Willis
The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award winners
Associated Press College Football Coach of the Year Award winners
AFCA Division I FBS Coach of the Year winners
Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award winners
Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award winners
The Sporting News College Football Coach of the Year winners
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