Curt Cignetti’s updated contract with Indiana as head football coach gave him yet another pay raise.
Per the memorandum of understanding, obtained by The Daily Hoosier, Cignetti will make a total of $13.025 million in the first year of his contract following IU’s national championship. He was set to make $11.15 million for 2026 per his previous deal.
Cignetti’s base salary remains $500,000 per year, with annual outside, marketing, and promotional income accounting for much of his overall pay. He also receives an annual retention bonus of $1 million, paid on Nov. 30 each year. The outside, marketing, and promotional income increases by $500,000 in each of his eight years on this contract, putting the average annual value of Cignetti’s new deal at $13.2 million.
The other terms of Cignetti’s previous contract with IU, signed in October, remain in effect.
Details on Curt Cignetti’s MOU with Indiana for new contract
This is Cignetti’s third contract revision with IU since becoming head coach after the 2023 season. Indiana’s appearance in the College Football Playoff semifinals triggered a good faith market review and negotiation of his contract, requiring IU to put Cignetti among the top three highest-paid FBS head coaches to avoid buyouts voiding.
Per USA Today, this new deal makes Cignetti the second-highest-paid coach in the country. Only Georgia head coach Kirby Smart ($13,282,580 per year) makes more than Indiana’s head coach.
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