Reports: New salary for Indiana's Curt Cignetti averages $13.2M through 2033

Field Level Media|published: Fri 20th February, 12:33 2026

Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti holds up the coaches trophy on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, during the Indiana Football College Football Playoff National Championship celebration and parade at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti agreed to a new contract, raising his average annual salary to $13.2 million through 2033, multiple media outlets reported on Friday.

The extension is the third in just over two years for Cignetti, who reportedly made $11.6 million per year in his previous deal. Now, Cignetti joins Georgia's Kirby Smart and new LSU boss Lane Kiffin as the lone college coaches with an average annual salary of at least $13 million.

Cignetti, 64, was allowed to renegotiate the terms of his contract within 120 days after the Hoosiers gained a berth in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Indiana went on to complete a perfect 16-0 season by defeating Miami in the championship game.

Cignetti, who was coaching in the FCS ranks at James Madison from 2022-23, has quickly established himself as one of the best coaches in college football. He has led Indiana, not remotely a football power historically, to a 27-2 record since taking over in November 2023.

In his first season in 2024, Cignetti was named Big Ten Coach of the Year and FWAA's Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, leading Indiana to a program-record 11 wins and its first College Football Playoff berth. The Hoosiers won a combined nine games in the three years before his arrival.

In December, the Hoosiers offered three-year contract extensions for offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan and defensive coordinator Bryant Haines.

--Field Level Media