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Derek Owings will remain at Indiana with 'big pay raise' despite USC rumors

0a7j0Tm2_400x400 (1)by: Colin McMahon05/02/25ColinMcMahon31
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Despite reports that Director of Football Performance Derek Owings could be leaving for a similar role at USC, he will remain with Indiana, TheHoosier.com can confirm.

First reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Owings has agreed to a three-year deal that includes a “big pay raise,” though the exact terms of the contract remain unknown.

This deal is significant not only for Owings—reaffirming his status as one of the top strength coaches in the sport—but also for Indiana, as it signals the program’s continued investment in sustained success. Prior to the Curt Cignetti era, the Hoosiers frequently lost assistants to higher-profile programs. But following the 2024 season, IU lost only one notable assistant, a testament to its commitment to retaining talent.

Tino Susneri did leave for UCLA, but Indiana retained both of its coordinators—Mike Shanahan and Bryant Haines—as well as key staff members like Bob Bostad and Pat Kuntz. A common thread among these coaches: all previously worked with Cignetti at James Madison before joining his staff in Bloomington.

Owings is among that group, having served as JMU’s strength and conditioning coach from 2020 to 2023. His familiarity with Cignetti and proven track record helped fuel Indiana’s record-breaking 2024 campaign, the first under Cignetti’s leadership.

Cignetti has publicly praised Owings on multiple occasions, saying, “He’s a big part of what we do,” and, “That’s why I do everything I can to keep him on the roster, pay him as well as I can, because he makes a difference.”

Those sentiments came well before Owings’ extension but clearly influenced Indiana’s decision to offer him a raise rather than allow him to leave for in-conference rival USC. The extension is yet another example of Indiana’s commitment to investing in its coaching staff—something Cignetti values deeply, and the university continues to support.

For a program looking to build on its 2024 success, retaining Derek Owings is a major win. Keeping him away from USC sends a broader message: Indiana isn’t just competing on the field—it’s ready to compete financially, too.

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