LOS ANGELES — Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti heads into the Rose Bowl having already committed to staying in Bloomington for the long haul.
Amidst a wild coaching cycle, Cignetti signed a new deal — his second in as many years for the No. 1 Hoosiers (13-0) — that makes him among the highest paid coaches in football.
How much will Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti next season?
Cignetti will earn $11.15 million in the first year of the fully guaranteed eight-year deal he signed in October.
There were only nine coaches in the country making more than $10 million a year in 2025, according to USA Today’s coaching salary database.
Cignetti’s new deal bumps up what he would owe the university in liquidated damages if he were to resign to accept employment at another school to $15 million through the first year of the deal. The deal also includes a clause that reduces those damages by 50% if Indiana University President Pam Whitten or Athletic Director Scott Dolson no longer hold their current positions.
Indiana also pledged significant annual resources to Cignetti and his program.
If the Hoosiers were to make the College Football Playoff semifinals at any point of the deal starting this season, the contract would undergo a good-faith review that would likely guarantee his annual pay gets bumped up to “no less than third amongst active head coaches” who competed in the CFP.
There’s also clause that states the school will make “every reasonable effort to provide” a competitive pool to retain staff.
How much has Curt Cignetti earned in bonuses in 2025
Cignetti’s maximum bonus payout is $3.3 million in one season, and he’s already in line to receive $1.9 million, having earned bonuses for winning six conference games ($150,000), the Big Ten title ($1 million), Big Ten Coach of the Year ($50,000), winning a major national coach of the year award ($100,000) and reaching the quarterfinals ($600,000).
Per his latest contract, his CFP bonus would go up $100,000 for reaching the semifinals. He can earn up to $2 million for IU winning a national title.
What is IU football coach Curt Cignetti’s all-time coaching record
Cignetti’s all-time record as a head coach is 143-37 going into the Rose Bowl, he’s 43-6 at the FBS level and 24-2 at Indiana. He’s never had a losing season in 15 years leading a program.
The Hoosiers have the second-most victories in the FBS during his time at the helm and went into the CFP with the country’s longest active home winning streak (15). He’s set program records for most overall wins and league wins in a two-year stretch.
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.
