After leading Indiana to the national title, coach Curt Cignetti has finalized a contract with the school that will pay him an average of $13.2 million through the 2033 season.
 |
|
|---|---|
| Attribute | Details |
| Name | Curt Cignetti |
| Position | Head Coach |
| Team | Indiana Hoosiers |
| Age | 64 |
| New Salary | $13.2 million annually |
| Contract Length | Through 2033 season |
| Previous Salary | $11.6 million annually |
| Record at Indiana | 27-2 |
| National Titles | 1 (2025) |
| Buyout | $15 million |
After leading Indiana to the national title, coach Curt Cignetti has finalized a contract with the school that will pay him an average of $13.2 million through the 2033 season. The length of Cignetti’s deal does not change, but his salary will increase from $11.6 million annually, reflecting his remarkable success with the Hoosiers.
Indiana announced a new deal for Cignetti in October, but it included a “good market faith review” that activated if the Hoosiers reached the College Football Playoff semifinal, which they accomplished after a Jan. 1 win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl. The review required the sides to meet within 120 days after the CFP semifinal and adjust Cignetti’s salary to rank no less than third among active head coaches, according to the term sheet.
The $13.2 million annual salary places Cignetti alongside Georgia’s Kirby Smart and new LSU coach Lane Kiffin as the only coaches earning at least $13 million nationally. This elite tier of coaching compensation reflects the growing financial investment in college football’s most successful programs. Cignetti’s contract has been revised three times in two seasons, as he arrived in late 2023 with a six-year, $27 million deal, demonstrating the rapid escalation of his value to the program.
Cignetti is 27-2 at Indiana, which won its first national title in 2025 and its first outright Big Ten title since 1945. This historic achievement ended decades of frustration for the Hoosiers faithful and established the program as a national powerhouse.
Contract Evolution
| Date | Annual Salary | Contract Details |
|---|---|---|
| Late 2023 | $4.5 million | Initial 6-year, $27 million deal |
| October 2025 | $11.6 million | First extension with CFP clause |
| February 2026 | $13.2 million | Current extension through 2033 |
After Indiana announced his new contract in October, Cignetti, 64, said he planned on retiring at the school. “I couldn’t be more proud to be a Hoosier,” Cignetti said. “The way that this state has embraced us and our success in football has meant more to me than anything else.”
The agreement announced in October raised Cignetti’s buyout to $15 million if he left for another job and would pay him his full remaining salary if fired without cause. This structure demonstrates Indiana’s commitment to maintaining stability and preventing other programs from poaching their championship coach.
Coordinators & Staff
| Coach | Position | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Shanahan | Offensive Coordinator | New multiyear contract |
| Bryant Haines | Defensive Coordinator | Broyles Award winner 2025 |
Indiana also has awarded new multiyear contracts to coordinators Mike Shanahan (offense) and Bryant Haines (defense), who last week won the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant. This investment in the coaching staff ensures continuity and maintains the championship-caliber infrastructure Cignetti has built.
“We’re all-in, and going to continue to invest and make certain that we’ve got our priorities in line,” athletic director Scott Dolson said in October. “[Cignetti is] Priority 1, and then it’s retaining our staff, and it’s having the resources to build a roster.”
Tips / Interesting Facts
- Cignetti’s $13.2 million salary ranks him among the top 3 highest-paid coaches in college football alongside Kirby Smart and Lane Kiffin.
- The “good market faith review” clause activated after Indiana’s Rose Bowl victory over Alabama, triggering mandatory salary renegotiation.
- Cignetti has improved his salary nearly 3x since arriving at Indiana in late 2023, from $4.5M to $13.2M annually.
- Indiana’s 2025 national championship was the program’s first in school history and first outright Big Ten title since 1945.
- The $15 million buyout clause makes Cignetti one of the most expensive coaches to poach from another program.
- Defensive coordinator Bryant Haines won the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach in 2025.
- At 64 years old, Cignetti has stated his intention to retire at Indiana, making this his final coaching destination.
Contract Rankings
| Rank | Coach | School | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kirby Smart | Georgia | $13.2M+ |
| 2 | Lane Kiffin | LSU | $13.2M+ |
| 3 | Curt Cignetti | Indiana | $13.2M |
The Indianapolis Star first reported terms of Cignetti’s latest contract. With this deal finalized, Indiana has secured its championship coach for the long term and established itself as a premier destination for elite football talent. The investment reflects the changing landscape of college football, where sustained success requires substantial financial commitment at every level of the program.