In 2024, Curt Cignetti’s inaugural season as head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers football team defied expectations and set a new standard for first-year Big Ten coaches. Guiding Indiana to an 11-1 record, including an 8-1 mark in conference play, Cignetti’s leadership was instrumental in the Hoosiers’ remarkable turnaround from a 3-9 record the previous year.
Cignetti’s coaching prowess was recognized when he was unanimously named the Big Ten Coach of the Year by both media and fellow coaches. This accolade marked the first time an Indiana coach had received this honor since 2020.
Under his guidance, the Hoosiers achieved an eight-game improvement from the previous season, tying for the second-best improvement by a first-year head coach since at least 1996.
Cignetti’s success at Indiana was not an isolated incident. In 2023, he led James Madison University to a 10-0 start, becoming the first NCAA Division I head coach to start 8-0 or better in consecutive seasons at different institutions.
His coaching journey, which includes stints at Elon University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania, has been marked by a consistent ability to elevate programs and achieve significant improvements. At Elon, he led the team to back-to-back NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs appearances, and at IUP, he secured a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship.
Cignetti’s impact on Indiana’s football program is evident in the team’s performance and national recognition. The Hoosiers’ 11-1 record not only set a new program record for most wins in a season but also secured a spot in the College Football Playoff, marking the first appearance in the program’s history.
In summary, Curt Cignetti’s first year as head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers was a resounding success. His leadership transformed a struggling program into a national contender, earning him widespread acclaim and setting a new benchmark for first-year Big Ten coaches.
