Indiana football and head coach Curt Cignetti have agreed on a contract extension, according to IU Athletics. Per release, Cignetti will earn an average annual salary of $8 million with an additional $1 million retention bonus.
His contract runs through Nov. 30, 2032 – an eight-year extension. Per Zach Osterman of the IndyStar, Cignetti’s contract makes him one of the highest-paid Big Ten coaches and the highest-paid IU employee ever.
"I am beyond appreciative for the tremendous commitment, confidence, and support from President Pam Whitten and Athletic Director Scott Dolson,” Cignetti said in a press release Saturday. “Manette and I love Bloomington and are grateful for how 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."
The contract extension comes after Cignetti led Indiana to its first-ever 10-0 start in his first season at the helm in Bloomington, flipping the culture of one of college football’s lowliest programs and turning it into a College Football Playoff contender.
The No. 5 ranked Hoosiers, who are tied with No. 1 Oregon at the top of the Big Ten standings, are inactive Saturday and take on No. 2 Ohio State (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten) in Columbus at noon on Nov. 23 before returning home on Nov. 30 to host Purdue in the Old Oaken Bucket Game. The latest CFP projections have No. 7 seed Indiana hosting No. 10 seed Alabama in the first round of the CFP, and the final field will be announced Dec. 8.
