During his opening comments at Monday’s press conference, Curt Cignetti told reporters Indiana is “in a good spot.” Honestly, Cignetti is right, (11-1) Indiana still has over a 70 percent chance to make the playoffs and that number moves to over 90 % if they beat in-state rival the (1-10) Purdue Boilermakers this weekend.
Another reason “Coach Cig” is fine is because he and his staff are locked in for the long haul in Bloomington over the next few years.
Cignetti’s new contract, which Indiana announced earlier this month, will pay the coach a total of $72 million and runs through the 2032 season. In order to fire the coach, the Hoosiers would have to pay him 85% of the remaining salary on the deal. The buyout rises to 100% of remaining salary if the Hoosiers reach the College Football Playoff this season or any season during the life of the contract, giving Cignetti tremendous job security.
If Cignetti leaves the Hoosiers for a different job next offseason, IU would reportedly be owed $13 million. If he leaves following the 2026 season, the Hoosiers would receive $10 million.
Cignetti is set to make an annual base salary of $500,000 and receive an annual retention bonus of $1,000,000. The majority of his pay comes from annual outside, marketing and promotional income as follows per Indiana Hoosiers on SI
- Year 1 Dec. 1, 2024 to Nov. 30, 2025 – $6,800,000
- Year 2 Dec. 1, 2025 to Nov. 30, 2026 – $7,000,000
- Year 3 Dec. 1, 2026 to Nov. 30, 2027 – $7,200,000
- Year 4 Dec. 1, 2027 to Nov. 30, 2028 – $7,400,000
- Year 5 Dec. 1, 2028 to Nov. 30, 2029 – $7,600,000
- Year 6 Dec. 1, 2029 to Nov. 30, 2030 – $7,800,000
- Year 7 Dec. 1, 2030 to Nov. 30, 2031 – $8,000,000
- Year 8 Dec. 1, 2031 to Nov. 30, 2032 – $8,200,000