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'Proactive' Curt Cignetti details reason behind extending coordinators Bryant Haines, Mike Shanahan

headshotby: Alec Lasley12/23/25allasley

Curt Cignetti has been consistent in the messaging around his coaching staff and the importance to keep his support staff and coordinators under contract. After two program-altering seasons at Indiana, and in the middle of prep for the Rose Bowl, Indiana wasted no time in extending two key cogs to the success in Bloomington.

The Hoosiers reached three-year contract extensions with both defensive coordinator Bryant Haines earlier this month and then a week later, offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan. Haines has been with Cignetti for 11 of the last 12 years while Shanahan has been with Cignetti for his entire full-time career, 10 years.

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This isn’t the first time since the trio arrived in Bloomington that each coordinator was rewarded. Following Indiana’s 2024 season, Indiana announced raises to nearly every assistant on the staff.

While both coordinators were rewarded again this offseason, the extension for Bryant Haines was critical. It’s the second-straight season that Indiana’s defense has been top-5 in nearly every defensive category nationally. A finalist for the Broyles Award, given to the top assistant in the nation, Haines was getting calls and interest from many programs around the country.

“Bryant had some calls, had some people very seriously interested in him,” Cignetti said on Monday. “We thought it was important to be proactive.”

Earlier in the spring, Cignetti was vocal about Haines’ interest from schools around the country and foreshadowed more schools coming after the Hoosiers’ defensive coordinator.

“People are going to come after him,” Cignetti said in February. “The blue bloods were knocking at the door and we didn’t want to lose him and we were proactive. I really appreciate President Whitten and Scott Dolson for the tremendous support that they’ve provided since I’ve become the head coach that enables us to keep a key person like Bryant Haines.”

While full terms of his extension have yet to be disclosed, Haines is expected to make nearly $3 million a year, making him one of the highest-paid coordinators in the entire country. Indiana’s defense enters the College Football Playoff ranked No. 2 in the FBS in scoring (10.8 points per game) and No. 4 overall (257.2 yards allowed per game).

Indiana’s ability to keep Shanahan in the fold was critical as well. He led Indiana to the No. 8 offense nationally (472.8 yards per game) and the No. 4 scoring offense (41.9 points per game). He helped piece together an offense that saw a Heisman Trophy winner in Fernando Mendoza, and two of the top six receivers nationally in touchdowns.

“We also wanted to lock Mike up, who’s very deserving,” Cignetti said. “And I’m glad we did.”

Indiana lost just one member of its staff last season and is expected to retain everyone again this year. And, Cignetti is going to make sure Indiana does everything it can to continue that trend.

“And at the end of the season,” Cignetti added. “We’ll move on with the rest of staff.”

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