BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — In search of the spoils of the one of many best seasons in sports activities historical past? You will not match it within the head coach’s workplace.
Positive, the nationwide championship trophy was briefly displayed in Curt Cignetti’s workplace — virtually solely for recruiting causes — however on at the present time, if you wish to discover the {hardware} gained in Miami only one month earlier, it is advisable cease by the small workplace the place director of soccer operations Blake Jackson resides, across the nook from Cignetti’s. Atop a cluttered cupboard sit the trophies from Indiana‘s 4 most necessary video games in program historical past: Massive Ten championship, the Rose Bowl, the Peach Bowl and the Faculty Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship.
It is completely Cignetti.
John Talty, CBS Sports activities
Cignetti cherished Indiana’s playoff run and the way he obtained to share it together with his household, fellow coaches and gamers, calling it a “superb five-week time to be an Indiana Hoosier,” however he would not want a bunch of bodily reminders of what he achieved staring him within the face every day. The Indiana coach gave his employees the day without work as they flew again from Miami following the Hoosiers’ 27-21 win over Miami within the nationwide championship recreation, after which it was again to enterprise.
“We obtained to get pleasure from it that evening within the lodge a little bit bit after which flew again, and there is lots of work to be accomplished,” Cignetti informed CBS Sports activities. “My spouse and I went away for a couple of week after the outdated signing day. That was good. Proper now we’ve got our weekends off, so it sinks in a little bit bit, however whole deal with ’26.”
In individual, Cignetti comes off matter-of-fact and virtually subdued. He would not must make daring, attention-grabbing proclamations about Indiana soccer anymore. Everybody is aware of he wins now. As an alternative, it’s about tackling a brand new sort of problem for Indiana soccer: Dealing with success and avoiding complacency. From Wall Avenue to faculty soccer, letting the enjoyment of success seep in has dulled many a company’s edge.
It is too quickly to totally know the way Indiana will deal with final season’s accomplishment with spring observe but to start, however Cignetti would not appear overly fearful. He is a steadfast believer within the blueprint he and his employees have put collectively and that persevering with to ardently comply with it’ll result in extra success. How will you doubt him at this level? He took over the losingest program in faculty soccer historical past and turned it right into a nationwide champion in simply two seasons.
It is maybe probably the most exceptional accomplishment in faculty soccer historical past, and the supply of admiration (and jealousy) throughout the school soccer panorama. It has impressed hope for athletic administrators and college leaders in every single place: “If Indiana can do it, why cannot we?” On this previous teaching cycle, increasingly colleges talked about wanting their model of Cignetti as if they simply develop on bushes.
The Indiana coach takes all of it in stride.
“I suppose it is a praise of some type,” he says. “However what’s occurred right here has occurred as a result of we’ve got alignment from the president to the (athletic director), and we’re on the identical web page as a employees. We have now a philosophy that I have been doing for some time. Guys have been with me some time, and we’re in a position to get all people to sort of suppose alike. I feel the college, very early on, noticed what soccer success might do, and so they’ve continued to speculate.”
New tax bracket, similar work ethic
That final level has been paramount. College president Pam Whitten and athletic director Scott Dolson have made big investments into the soccer program — first to get it going, and now, to maintain it. That has included giving Cignetti an eight-year, $105.6 million deal that made him the game’s highest-paid coach at greater than $13.2 million yearly. It’s the fourth time in two years that Indiana has amended Cignetti’s contract. It is a exceptional rise for a person who was making lower than $700,000 in his remaining season at James Madison in 2023. He says conversations together with his monetary planner are extra difficult now — and possibly he’ll take a personal flight or two as a substitute of business — however in any other case he is the identical man he is all the time been.
With the spoils of success comes the liberty to say no, although.
As Cignetti’s movie star has exploded within the final 12 months, from fascination over his Chipotle order to t-shirts within the Indianapolis Airport adorned with “Curt So Good,” loads of outdoors presents have come. That features corporations providing Cignetti as a lot as $300,000 for a single speech. It may be tempting to get sucked into that circuit. He says he’ll do one look that he thinks will profit the state, however in any other case, he is avoiding that world. He loves watching movie and training ball, not giving speeches.
“There’s lots of people who settle for fairly a couple of of these,” Cignetti mentioned. “I make sufficient cash. I am appreciative of the presents and the alternatives, however that is what I receives a commission to do.”
Acquainted names
The college has rewarded Cignetti’s high lieutenants, offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan and defensive coordinator Bryant Haines, with top-of-the-market offers, too. Shanahan and Haines each garnered outdoors curiosity on the faculty and NFL ranges, however the truth that they stayed after a title run is a testomony to Cignetti and Indiana. Indiana is now a vacation spot, not merely a cease alongside the way in which.
That employees continuity has been an enormous a part of Indiana’s secret sauce, and a purpose to be extraordinarily bullish concerning the Hoosiers’ prospects shifting ahead. Shanahan and Haines, who gained this 12 months’s Broyles Award because the nation’s high assistant, have been with Cignetti because the Division II IUP days.
They know precisely what the large boss desires and the way he wants his gamers to be developed and coached. That helps the transition course of once you herald loads of new faces at key positions on the roster. Indiana misplaced quarterbacks coach Chandler Whitmer (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and energy coach Derek Owings (Tennessee), however changed them with two coaches Cignetti already knew properly.
That ought to assistance on a roster that loses presumptive No. 1 decide Fernando Mendoza and key contributors like D’Angelo Ponds, Elijah Sarratt, Aiden Fisher, Pat Coogan and others. January was an particularly hectic month for Cignetti and his employees as they prepped Mendoza and Co. for a nationwide title run whereas concurrently working to exchange them within the fast-moving portal.
The subsequent part
Cignetti succeeded in every single place however the sleep division. He managed solely about three hours of relaxation whereas placing collectively a top-10 switch class as his thoughts raced at evening, considering of all he needed to do. TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, Michigan State receiver Nick Marsh and Wisconsin offensive lineman Joe Brunner headline Indiana’s incoming expertise infusion.
Cignetti is anxious to get spring observe going to see how all the brand new items match into the profitable tradition he is constructed. With as fast-paced as switch recruiting strikes, you must belief your prep work and instincts on gamers. He likes the group he is added, however time will inform how they deal with the stress of now making an attempt to repeat as nationwide champions. The times of Indiana being the underdog are lengthy gone, and with that comes heightened expectations.
What’s not gone? The identical requirements Cignetti delivered to Bloomington that eternally modified the game.
“We’re not going to alter the way in which we do issues,” Cignetti mentioned. “If there was a greater approach, we’d have accomplished it final 12 months. You hear lots about, ‘Oh you are on the high of the mountain and the way laborious it’s to remain there.’ It is laborious to get to that time, and you may have a group that does issues constantly properly and possibly not repeat as a result of another person is enjoying higher.
“I am not one to create a self-fulfilling prophecy that we’re fats and joyful as a result of proper now every thing seems to be shifting in the best path.”
