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    • Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti agrees to new contract and raise
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    Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti agrees to new contract and raise

    Vaseline Posted on

    BLOOMINGTON – Indiana and football coach Curt Cignetti have agreed to a new contract that makes him the highest-paid employee in university history, according to an IndyStar source.

    Cignetti will receive significantly improved financial conditions as well as further guarantees regarding program infrastructure and support. These guarantees will likely include commitments in the form of things like staffing levels and assistant coaching salary pools.

    IU is also in the planning and financing stages of a substantial renovation of Memorial Stadium, which Cignetti can now help shape.

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    “I am beyond grateful for the tremendous commitment, trust and support of (IU) President Pam Whitten and athletics director Scott Dolson,” Cignetti said in a news release confirming his new terms. “Manette and I love Bloomington and are grateful for the way the IU community has embraced us. I look forward to leading this outstanding program and doing my part to continue the momentum for Hoosier football.”

    Cignetti’s new contract extends his stay in Bloomington beyond the original terms agreed to upon his departure from James Madison last winter. That contract ran until 2029 and guaranteed Cignetti $4.5 million in annual compensation, with that number rising via built-in increases over the life of the deal.

    Officially, Cignetti will sign a new contract with a term of eight years and an average annual compensation of $8 million. He also receives a $1 million annual retention bonus. A breakdown of Cignetti’s annual compensation was not immediately available.

    The contract runs through November 30, 2032. IndyStar understands Cignetti is still eligible for the bonuses earned from this season’s performance, perks that already amount to $600,000 and could be further enhanced.

    “After first meeting with Coach Cignetti,” IU Athletic Director Scott Dolson said in a statement released Saturday, “we felt confident that he was a perfect fit for what we were trying to build with our football program. We believed IU could be a winning program, and we love what he is building here.”

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    Cignetti’s first year in Bloomington was a whirlwind, with the Hoosiers already setting program records for most wins (10) and best starts (10-0) in a single campaign. They’re in the catbird seat for a spot in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, ranked No. 5 in last week’s poll, and they’ll stay in the Big Ten title hunt with a win at Ohio State next Saturday.

    Cignetti, the leading candidate for both the Big Ten and national coach of the year honors, has played a central role in that turnaround. By bringing along a significant portion of his staff and several players from James Madison, Cignetti immediately turned a flagship Indiana team into one of the most two-way dominant teams in the country.

    Becoming more consistently competitive in football has been a priority for both Dolson and Whitten since taking their respective positions in 2020 and 2021. Retaining a coach who is already having success in Indiana is a sign of their intent to continue raising the bar.

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

    How much will Curt Cignetti’s new contract cost?

    Cignetti’s new eight-year contract is worth an average annual compensation of $8 million. He also receives a $1 million annual retention bonus. A breakdown of Cignetti’s annual compensation was not immediately available.

    The contract runs through November 30, 2032. IndyStar understands Cignetti is still eligible for the bonuses earned from this season’s performance, perks that already amount to $600,000 and could be further enhanced.

    Listen to Mind Your Banners, our IU Athletics-centric podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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