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Revision as of 17:39, 23 November 2024 by IndyNotes (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) American football player and coach (born 1961)
 Cignetti in 2024 | |
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| Team | Indiana |
| Conference | Big Ten |
| Record | 10–0 |
| Annual salary | $4.25 million |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | (1961-06-02) June 2, 1961 (age 63) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1979–1982 | West Virginia |
| Position(s) | Quarterback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1983–1984 | Pittsburgh (GA) |
| 1985 | Davidson (QB/WR) |
| 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 |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 129–35 |
| Tournaments | 4–3 (NCAA D-II playoffs) 6–5 (NCAA D-I playoffs) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 PSAC (2012) 2 Sun Belt East Division (2022, 2023) 2 PSAC West Division (2012, 2015) 3 CAA (2019–2021) | |
| Awards | |
| PSAC Coach of the Year (2012) CAA Coach of the Year (2017) CFN Sun Belt Coach of the Year (2022) Sun Belt Coach of the Year (2023) | |
Curt Cignetti (born June 2, 1961) is an American football coach and former quarterback who is the current head football coach of the Indiana Hoosiers. He was previously the head coach of the James Madison Dukes, Elon Phoenix, and IUP Crimson Hawks.
Playing career
Cignetti was a two-year letterman at West Virginia University. He was listed as a 6' 3" 200-lb quarterback. As a scout team quarterback, assistant coach Nick Saban recalled Cignetti would disregard the scout team cue cards and throw passes where he wanted. Saban remembered, "He was such a competitive guy, he wanted to beat the defense. He'd throw it wherever he thought he had the best chance to make a play."
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, which he helped assemble, featured six future first-round NFL Draft selections.
Cignetti's tenure at Alabama provided him with a comprehensive understanding of program building, encompassing structure, organization, practice methodologies, in-game strategies, and maintaining high performance levels during periods of success. This experience significantly influenced his coaching philosophy, emphasizing process, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Head coaching career
IUP (2011–2016)
IUP had a 4–10 conference record prior to Cignetti's arrival in 2011. In his first year as head coach, the team won 6 of its last 7 games, by an average of 28 points per game, to finish 7–3. In 2012, The Crimson Hawks won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and advanced to the NCAA Regional Finals, finishing 12–2. Cignetti's 2013 team finished 9–2 and he led IUP to the NCAA playoffs in both 2015 and 2016. His 2016 team finished 10–2. Cignetti finished 53–17 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)
The Elon team had a 4–20 conference record and suffered through six straight losing seasons prior to Cignetti's arrival, but in his first season the squad won eight games in a row after an opening season loss to MAC champion Toledo. The Phoenix were ranked as high as 6th nationally, played James Madison for the conference championship and were selected for the NCAA Playoffs for the first time since 2009. Cignetti was named CAA coach of the year and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year. In 2018, Cignetti led the Phoenix to a 27–24 win over James Madison, ending JMU's 22-game CAA Football winning streak and then FCS-best 19-game home winning streak. The win marked Elon's first over a top-five FCS opponent. The Phoenix earned back to back NCAA playoff appearances for the first time in program history.
James Madison (2019–2023)
 | This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Cignetti was named Head Football Coach at James Madison on December 14, 2018. In his first season, Cignetti led the Dukes to a seven-game improvement over the prior season, finishing 14–2 and advancing the team through the playoffs to an appearance in the National Championship game where they would lose to North Dakota State. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 college football season was delayed with make-up dates scheduled in the early 2021 calendar year. JMU completed the revised 2020 football season with a 7–1 record and advanced to the Semifinals of the playoffs. JMU went 12–2 in the 2021 football season and announced a move from the Colonial Athletic Association to the Sun Belt Conference starting the following season.
Indiana (2024–present)
Cignetti was named head football coach at Indiana University on November 30, 2023, to replace the recently dismissed Tom Allen. His tenure began with the daunting challenge of overcoming low expectations, as media voters had predicted Indiana to finish 17th out of 18 teams in the Big Ten. In response, during one of his first press conferences, when asked how he planned to appeal to incoming players, Cignetti confidently responded, "It's pretty simple. I win," before pausing and adding, "Google me." Cignetti’s bold demeanor set the tone for a historic first season with the Hoosiers. He guided the team 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 10-win season, highlighted by a victory over defending national champions Michigan, earning the team national recognition and a top-five ranking.
Recognizing his transformative impact, Indiana University rewarded Cignetti partway through the 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.
Coaching philosophy
Curt Cignetti's coaching philosophy reflects a disciplined, detail-oriented approach shaped by his experiences, including a formative four-year stint under Nick Saban, which he describes as a "doctorate-level course" in program building. He emphasizes structure, organization, and a commitment to excellence, focusing not only on practice and in-game strategy but also on maintaining a culture of accountability and high standards—even during sustained success. Central to his philosophy is a relentless drive to keep players and staff motivated, ensuring complacency never sets in.
Cignetti adopts much of Saban's vocabulary and mindset, frequently referencing concepts like "process," "accountability," and "standards." He stresses the importance of improving daily and maintaining a sharp mental approach. As a demanding leader, he prioritizes precision and expects excellence, mirroring the exacting nature of his former mentor. His methodical and structured coaching style has been instrumental in transforming programs, instilling discipline, and achieving sustained success across multiple levels of college football.
Personal life
Cignetti and his wife, Manette, have three children, Curt Jr., Carly Ann, and Natalie Elise. Cignetti's father, Frank Cignetti Sr., won 199 games as a head coach at West Virginia University and IUP and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. 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/STATS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 10–0 | 7–0 | ||||||
| Indiana: | 10–0 | 7–0 | |||||||
| Total: | 129–35 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
| |||||||||
- ^ 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.
- Cignetti left for Indiana before JMU's bowl game
References
- Niziolek, Michael (December 13, 2023). "Here are the details on new Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti's 6-year contract". Herald-Times Online. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- "Sun Belt Announces 2023 Football Postseason Awards & All-Conference Teams". sunbeltsports.org. November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ "Staff Directory: Curt Cignetti". IUPAthletics.com. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
- "WVUStats - Curt Cignetti". www.wvustats.com. West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Rittenberg2024was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - Smith, Adam. "EPIC FOR ELON: Phoenix takes down Dukes in dramatic, historic victory". The Times. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
- Marot, Michael (November 30, 2023). "Indiana Hoosiers agree to deal with Curt Cignetti as new football coach". AP News. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- Capurso, Tim (December 23, 2023). "Indiana's Curt Cignetti Makes Ultimate Flex About Winning Record: 'Google Me'". SI.com. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
- Bob Fulton. "Geography Lesson". IUP Magazine. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
External links
| Head football coaches of the Big Ten Conference | |
|---|---|
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Cite error: There are <ref group=20 November 2024> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=20 November 2024}} template (see the help page).
- 1961 births
- Living people
- American football quarterbacks
- Alabama Crimson Tide football coaches
- Davidson Wildcats football coaches
- IUP Crimson Hawks football coaches
- James Madison Dukes football coaches
- Indiana Hoosiers football coaches
- Morgantown High School alumni
- NC State Wolfpack football coaches
- Pittsburgh Panthers football coaches
- Rice Owls football coaches
- Temple Owls football coaches
- West Virginia Mountaineers football players
- Players of American football from Pittsburgh