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Curt Cignetti

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Curt Cignetti
Cignetti in 2024
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamIndiana
ConferenceBig Ten
Record10–0
Annual salary$4.25 million[1]
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
Overall129–35
Tournaments4–3 (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)[2]

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

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Cignetti was a two-year letterman at West Virginia University.[3] He was listed as a 6' 3" 200-lb quarterback.[4]

Assistant coaching career

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Early coaching career

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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.[3]

NC State

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Cignetti joined Chuck Amato's new staff at NC State in 2000. The 2002 team set a school record with 11 wins. In 2003, Cignetti coached quarterback Philip Rivers, the ACC Player of the Year. In seven seasons, the Wolfpack participated in five bowls, winning four. In 2006, Cignetti recruited future Super Bowl champion quarterback Russell Wilson to the Wolfpack before joining Nick Saban's new staff at Alabama.

Alabama

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Cignetti was an original member of Saban's Alabama coaching staff in 2007, serving as wide receiver coach/recruiting coordinator. The 2008 team finished the regular season 12–0 and the 2009 team finished 14–0 and won the national championship. The Tide won 29 regular season games in a row between 2008 and 2010. Cignetti coached wide receiver Julio Jones and recruited Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram II and linebacker Dont'a Hightower, all members of the 2008 recruiting class, which featured six first-round NFL Draft choices.

Head coaching career

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IUP (2011–2016)

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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)

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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.[5] The Phoenix earned back to back NCAA playoff appearances for the first time in program history.

James Madison (2019–2023)

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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)

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Cignetti was named Head Football Coach at Indiana University on November 30, 2023, to replace the recently dismissed Tom Allen.[6] In one of his first press conferences after the hiring announcement, Cignetti was asked about how he plans to appeal to incoming players to the program. Cignetti answered, "It's pretty simple. I win," paused, and followed with, "Google me."[7] In his first season, Cignetti guided the Hoosiers to their first 8–0 start since 1967,[8] then to their first 9–0 start in school history.[9] And then to their first 10-0 start in school program history and also their first ever 10 win season in program history.[10]

Personal life

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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.[11] His brother, Frank Jr., also coaches and was most recently the offensive coordinator at Pittsburgh.

Head coaching record

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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)[a]
2023 James Madison 11–1 7–1 1st (East)[a] Armed Forces[b]
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
  • #Rankings from final AFCA poll for IUP and final STATS poll for Elon and James Madison.
  • °Rankings from final FCS Coaches' poll.
  1. ^ a b 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

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "Sun Belt Announces 2023 Football Postseason Awards & All-Conference Teams". sunbeltsports.org. November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Staff Directory: Curt Cignetti". IUPAthletics.com. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  4. ^ "WVUStats - Curt Cignetti". www.wvustats.com. West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved October 16, 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. ^ Capurso, Tim (December 23, 2023). "Indiana's Curt Cignetti Makes Ultimate Flex About Winning Record: 'Google Me'". SI.com. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  8. ^ Patterson, Chip (October 26, 2024). "Indiana improves to 8-0 without QB Kurtis Rourke, riding defense and run game to best start since 1967". CBSSports.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  9. ^ "Rourke throws 4 TDs, Ferrell intercepts two passes as No. 13 Indiana beats Michigan State 47-10". ESPN. ESPN Enterprises, Inc. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  10. ^ "Indiana football survives Michigan, earns first 10-win season in program history". www.idsnews.com. Indiana daily student. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  11. ^ Bob Fulton. "Geography Lesson". IUP Magazine. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
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