Indiana HC Curt Cignetti: ‘I plan on retiring as a Hoosier’
By Mark Kern
Published:
Curt Cignetti has taken the Indiana football program to levels it has never been to, and the school rewarded him with a new contract extension on Thursday that reflected that rise.
The second-year IU coach signed an 8-year extension that bumped his average annual salary to $11.6 million.
Things are rolling in Bloomington, as Cignetti and the Hoosiers picked up a monster upset of previously unbeaten Oregon in Week 7. The Hoosiers are currently No. 3 in the AP poll, their highest ranking in program history.
With the success he has had to start his tenure, rumors naturally circulated that Cignetti could be an option for schools like Penn State and Florida.
After his extension was announced, Cignetti told fans he plans on ending his coaching career at Indiana.
“My wife Manette and I love Indiana University, Bloomington, and the state of Indiana,” Cignett said in a video message shared on social media. “We have accomplished a lot here in a short amount of time, but we also have a lot of work to do. I couldn’t be more proud to be a Hoosier, and I plan on retiring a Hoosier.
“The way this state has embraced us and our success in football has meant more to me than anything. Curt Cignetti is going to work daily to make Indiana the best they can be.”
Following an 11-2 season and a surprise run to the College Football Playoff, many wondered if the Hoosiers were a flash in the pan. Cignetti is quickly showing IU has entered a new era as a program.
The Hoosiers will look to continue their magical run on Saturday against Michigan State.
