Curt Cignetti has had a major turnaround in his salary.
Indiana announced on Thursday that Cignetti has agreed to an 8-year deal with the Hoosiers that will pay him $11.6 million per year through 2033. Indiana had competition from Penn State for Cignetti, who is coming off leading the Hoosiers to a big road win over the Oregon Ducks. The deal makes Cignetti one of the highest-paid coaches in college football, and it’s hard not to feel he deserves it.
Cignetti took over as Indiana’s coach two years ago after the program had gone 3-9 in 2023 under Tom Allen. Cignetti turned things around immediately and went 11-2 last year while leading the Hoosiers to the College Football Playoff. The program is 6-0 this season and ranks fourth in the country in both points scored per game and points allowed per game.
Not only has Cignetti led a big turnaround at Indiana, but he also has seen a big turnaround in his salary. He went from making $138,000 per year as the head coach at Elon in 2017 to making over $11 million per year 9 years later.
Curt Cignetti was making $138,000 as the head coach of #IUP. He bet on himself and took the job at Elon for the 2017 season then moved to James Madison. Now in Year 2 in Bloomington, his annual average compensation will be $11.6 million. @IUPCrimsonHawk https://t.co/cMgzpgYhNa pic.twitter.com/0vm1VwDLTi
— Pete Sirianni (@petersirianni) October 16, 2025
5 years ago — JMU hires Curt Cignetti at $425,000 annually.
— Jared Kelly (@Jared_Kelly7) October 16, 2025
2 years ago — Indiana hires Cignetti at $4.5 million annually.
1 year ago — IU extends Cignetti at $8 million annually.
Today — IU extends Cignetti at $11.6 million annually.
Meteoric rise for Curt Cignetti. #iufb
What an increase.
Cignetti had served as an assistant coach at NC State and Alabama prior to beginning his head coach journey at Indiana University Pennsylvania. Then he went to Elon, James Madison and now Indiana. He’s gone from making the low six-figures to making eight figures with the Hoosiers. Who saw that coming?
