Indiana football is sweetening the deal for defensive coordinator Bryant Haines.
Per a report from 247Sports, IU has given Haines a new contract amidst rival interest. This is the second time after the end of the regular season that Haines has agreed to a new deal with the Hoosiers, after they handed out raises to all their assistants in December.
Haines is one of five finalists for the Broyles Award, given to the top assistant coach in college football. The winner will be announced on Feb. 13. Haines was also a semifinalist for the award in 2023 at James Madison.
Indiana’s defense was one of the best units in the country this season in Haines’ first year in Bloomington. The Hoosiers ranked second in the nation in total defense, allowing just 256.3 yards per game. Their 15.6 points allowed per game ranked sixth in the country. And IU finished with the top rushing defense in the nation, giving up only 80.23 yards per game.
Haines was publicly linked to the defensive coordinator opening at Penn State, after former IU head coach Tom Allen left that post to become Clemson’s defensive coordinator. News broke Sunday, first reported by the Centre Daily Times, that Penn State is hiring Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles away for the same position. It’s certainly plausible that Haines could receive an inquiry from the Buckeyes for their newly available job.
It’s not yet known what the terms of Haines’ new contract at IU look like.
Curt Cignetti has lost only one assistant coach from his first season at Indiana, when quarterbacks coach Tino Sunseri left to become UCLA’s offensive coordinator.
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