Although he makes more than $4 million per year, first-year Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti looks like a steal so far compared to his national and Big Ten peers.
Cignetti has the Hoosiers off to their first 6-0 start since 1967 and a No. 16 ranking in the AP Top-25.
But nationally, Cignetti ranks just 49th among FBS college football head coaches according to USA Today’s annual publication of coaching salaries. USA Today reports Cignetti’s salary at $4,250,000. While his pay is middle of the road among FBS coaches, Cignetti is making a lot more than he was a year ago. In their 2023 report, USA Today said he made $677,311 at James Madison.
Cignetti came into the Big Ten well below the other first year head coaches. Washington’s Jedd Fisch and Michigan State’s Jonathan Smith are both reported to be making more than $7 million per year, while Michigan’s Sherrone Moore is getting $6 million.
In total, 14 Big Ten coaches are making more than Cignetti according to USA Today. Here is a complete rundown of the salaries of each coach in the league:
- Lincoln Riley, USC: $10,043,418
- Ryan Day, Ohio State: $10,021,250
- James Franklin, Penn State: $8,500,000
- Dan Lanning, Oregon: $8,200,000
- Luke Fickell, Wisconsin: $7,725,000
- Jedd Fisch, Washington: $7,700,023
- Jonathan Smith, Michigan State: $7,250,000
- Kirk Ferentz, Iowa: $7,000,000
- P.J. Fleck, Minnesota: $6,700,000
- Bret Bielema, Illinois: $6,650,000
- Matt Rhule, Nebraska: $6,500,000
- Greg Schiano, Rutgers: $6,250,000
- Sherrone Moore, Michigan: $6,000,000
- Mike Locksley, Maryland: $5,801,900
- Curt Cignetti, Indiana: $4,250,000
- Ryan Walters, Purdue: $4,050,000
- DeShaun Foster, UCLA: $3,250,000
- David Braun, Northwestern: No data
If Indiana continues to have a historic season, it seems possible Cignetti could negotiate a new deal in December. But he also has the opportunity to earn significantly more than the base amount via a lucrative bonus structure. Cignetti has already earned a $250,000 pay increase triggered by achieving bowl eligibility this season. He has the potential to earn several more bonuses during the 2024 season.
USA Today says the maximum in total bonuses Cignetti could earn this season is $3.3 million. That’s the sixth-highest total in the FBS.
According to USA Today, Cignetti’s buyout at the end of this season is $17 million.
For complete coverage of IU football, GO HERE.
The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”
- You can follow us on Twitter: @daily_hoosier
- Find us on Facebook and Instagram
- Seven ways to support completely free IU coverage at no cost to you.
