With new expectations surrounding Indiana football Curt Cignetti is not changing the formula

A year ago Indiana football head coach Curt Cignetti was an overconfident coach taking over at a dead-end power four job. 

Despite the program’s lack of modern success and few logical reasons for hope, Cignetti believed in his ability to turn a dormant Indiana program into a contender in college football. 

In year one Cignetti shocked the world leading Indiana to the best start in school history and a College Football Playoff appearance. 

Now a year later the expectations and buzz surrounding Indiana football have completely changed.

Not only is there a belief in the program heading into the 2025 season, there are expectations for success. 

The way the college football world looks at Indiana has changed significantly, but Cignetti is not changing a thing.

“Up to this point the formula has proven consistently successful and now we launch into year two,” Curt Cignetti said on Always College Football with Greg McElroy.

Cignetti will be the first to tell you this is not the first time he’s turned a program around. 

He reminded McElroy of that point, as his team’s have averaged a 6.33 win improvement in his first year as head coach.

Indiana happens to be the biggest improvement to date as the Hoosiers won 8 more games in 2024 under Cignetti than they did in 2023. 

“I think I’ve been fortunate to learn from some great people and grew up obviously a son of a coach,” Cignetti said. “The whole key to the drill is you got to have a blueprint and a plan and work it every day and be committed to do the same things you ask of the players.”

From the legendary Nick Saban to his hall-of-fame father Frank Cignetti Sr., he has learned from some of the best to ever do it and it’s helped him find success.

Cignetti will say he’s taken stuff from other coaches, but he’s put his spin on everything throughout his career. 

With new expectations, Cignetti stays in his bubble determined to keep the chip on his shoulder.

“You got to control the controllables. Eliminate the noise and the clutter. Commit to the process. High standards and expectations. Improve daily. Maximize your opportunities. Keep your eye on the bullseye,” Cignetti said. 

“I always like to have a little chip on my shoulder and there’s been enough out there already that we’ll find a little chip to play with next year. It’ll be a lot of fun.”

The expectations that surround Indiana are not going to change anything inside the program.

Cignetti is going to continue to be himself. 

He’s going to be confident and sometimes arrogant.

Most importantly he’s going to continue to believe in himself, his coaching staff, and his players more than anyone.

“An organization is all about people. It’s the people you hire and I’ve been blessed to have great continuity,” he said. 

A big part of that continuity has come from his coordinators. 

Defensive coordinator Bryant Haines has been with Cignetti for all four stops and has been the defensive coordinator for the last six seasons. 

Offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan is in his fourth year as Cignetti’s offensive coordinator but has been with him at all four stops as well. 

With so many transfers year in and out, building a consistent culture can be difficult and the consistency of the coordinators has helped Cignetti. 

“When you get the right kind of people and create an environment where they can thrive the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts and that’s what a team is all about,” Cignetti said.

The consistency of Cignetti’s coaching staff has emphasized that thought process, but it’s also evident in his recruiting efforts. 

Cignetti and Indiana have targeted production over potential, but finding guys that will fit and buy into his system is equally as important. 

“You got to get everybody to think alike because 98% of this game is between the ears,” Cignetti said. “Once you get close to the season the intangibles really become important there because the margin of victory is very slim.”

It’s been said that football games are more often lost than they are won, and mental mistakes can be the biggest killer in a game. 

Turnovers and penalties are areas where discipline and connectivity can be seen and Indiana was great in both areas. The Hoosiers averaged just 5.0 penalties a game last year and only turned the ball over nine times in 13 games. 

Those two areas played a big role in Indiana’s success a season ago and will be two areas Cignetti will look to stay strong in. 

The current college football landscape makes staying consistent year to year even tougher, but Cignetti would not want it any other way. 

He’s ready to move on from last season’s ‘Cinderella run’.

“What you did yesterday doesn’t mean squat. You got to prove yourself every moment of the day and that’s the only way you get better,” Cignetti said.

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