Indiana has locked up defensive coordinator Bryant Haines with another new contract “that will make him one of the nation’s highest-paid assistants.”
That’s according to a Friday evening report by Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports.
A source confirmed the report to The Daily Hoosier.
Zenitz’ report indicates Haines was receiving outside interest for job openings.
Haines was already a highly-paid assistant coach. He signed a new deal following the 2024 season that increased his base pay to around $2 million for 2025. Overall it’s his third salary increase since coming to IU from James Madison.
Haines’ new deal follows head coach Curt Cignetti’s extension signed in October that included language to ensure he had one of the nation’s highest-paid staffs.
Cignetti’s October memorandum of understanding with IU says “The University shall make every reasonable effort to provide a competitive Staff Pool … to retain and acquire talented assistant coaches, strength coaches, operations staff, and support staff.”
More specifically, that “reasonable effort” means a contractually-obligated good faith market review anytime IU’s staff pool drops below fifth-highest in the Big Ten or 10th-highest in the country.
Earlier this week Haines was named 2025’s top assistant coach in the FBS by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
Nationally, Indiana is No. 2 in scoring defense (10.8 ppg), No. 3 in rushing defense (77.6 ypg), No. 19 in passing defense (179.5 ypg), and No. 6 in total defense (257.2 ypg).
IU is No. 6 with 25 turnovers created in 2025, No. 2 with 112 tackles for loss, No. 4 with 39 sacks, No. 2 in opponent third down conversions (28.7%), and No. 1 in opponent red zone touchdown percentage (27.3%).
After a dominant 2024 campaign, Haines has elevated the performance of the Indiana defense in 2025 despite having to replace several starters from last season including linebacker Jailin Walker, defensive tackles James Carpenter and C.J. West, cornerback Jamier Johnson, safety Shawn Asbury, rover Terry Jones, and edge Lanell Carr.
Indiana’s defense did not allow a second half touchdown to then No. 2 Oregon on the road in October, or then No. 1 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship.
Nine members of Haines’ 2025 defense earned some measure of All-Big Ten honors. That list includes three players who were reserves last year for Indiana who developed into stars in 2025 — linebackers Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones, and defensive tackle Tyrique Tucker.
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