Curt Cignetti extension: New details emerge on buyout, guaranteed money at Indiana

Indiana signed head coach Curt Cignetti to a jaw-dropping, eight-year contract extension on Thursday. Now, additional details have emerged on the deal.

According to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, if the Hoosiers fire Cignetti without cause during his new deal — his $93.25 million is fully guaranteed. Cignetti will earn $11.6 million on average with the contract running through Nov. 30, 2033. His buyout is up to $15 million, per On3’s Pete Nakos.

According to Yahoo! Sports Ross Dellenger, Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson approached the Hoosiers head coach about the new contract. Three days later, and the deal was done. Dellenger noted that extensions like this can take weeks or even months to work out. This highlights the sense of urgency those in charge had following the firing of former Penn State head coach James Franklin on Sunday.

Cignetti, alongside a small handful of other coaches, have appeared on hot boards related to the Nittany Lions opening. This new deal secures Cignetti in Bloomington for the foreseeable future.

If he maintains this level of success through the length of his contract, Cignetti would be 73 years old and no one would argue erecting a statue of the man who turned the Hoosiers’ football program around. However, there’s a ton of football to be played between now and then. As it stands, Cignetti has helped Indiana emerge as a national championship contender through the first half of the season.

“We are committed to investing in IU Football in such a way that we can compete at a championship level, and the No. 1 priority in doing that is ensuring that Coach Cignetti is the leader of our program,” said Dolson, via release. “His accomplishments during the last season and a half have been nothing short of remarkable.  As much as anyone, he believed in what was possible with our program, and he’s turned that belief into reality. This is a great day for IU Football and Indiana University. I look forward to working alongside Coach Cignetti for many years to come.”

Through one and a half seasons, Cignetti has compiled a 17-2 record that includes a 6-0 record to start the season. Indiana finished the regular season last year with an 11-2 record to go along with an appearance in the College Football Playoff.

Many expected the Hoosiers to be one-and-done after 2024, but Indiana has returned this season and looks better than ever under Cignetti’s guidance. They’ll look to make it 7-0 this weekend at home against Michigan State.