For a lot of its existence, Indiana has been generally known as a basketball faculty. This system even has its personal film, the charming 1986 movie Hoosiers. Certain, the basketball workforce has solely made two NCAA Tournaments since 2016, which was additionally the final time the college reached a Candy Sixteen. Nonetheless, hoops and Hoosiers are synonymous. Though Curt Cignetti is popping Indiana right into a soccer powerhouse proper earlier than our eyes.
Final 12 months, in his first season with the workforce, Cignetti led the Hoosiers to an 11-2 report and an look within the Faculty Soccer Playoff. It marked the primary time Indiana has reached the playoff. Cignetti has stored the great occasions going this 12 months, because the Hoosiers sit at 6-0 and are the No. 3 workforce within the nation.
The Hoosiers have already been impressed and provided Cignetti a large new deal price $93 million over eight years, which is able to maintain him on the faculty via the 2033 season. At a median annual worth of $11.6 million, Cignetti will now have one of many highest salaries in all of faculty soccer.
Justin Casterline/Getty Photos for ONIT
Solely Kirby Smart of Georgia (about $13.3 million per 12 months) and Ohio State’s Ryan Day (about $12.6 million yearly) will make extra per season than Cignetti. And each of these guys have gained nationwide titles. Indiana would love the same final result.
In a season and a half, Cignetti has already gained extra video games than his predecessor Tom Allen did over his previous 4 seasons. The Hoosiers’ 11-2 report final 12 months was additionally the primary time ever that the college gained double-digit video games in a single season. Indiana has had a soccer program since 1887, in order that’s a very staggering stat. Talking of staggering stats, this is Curt’s wage development since 2007:
A hell of a wage development for Curt Cignetti:
2007, Bama WR coach, $170,000
2009, Bama WR coach, $200,000
2010, Bama WR coach, $250,000
2011, IUP HC, $125,000
2022, JMU HC, $425,000
2023, JMU HC, $677,000
2024, Indiana HC, $4.5 million
2025, Indiana HC, $11.6 million
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) October 17, 2025
Indiana posted a video in regards to the deal on its social media channels. Cignetti is featured within the video, saying, “I could not be extra proud to be a Hoosier, and I plan on retiring a Hoosier.“
However first, the 64-year-old Cignetti has one other objective at hand. He is already earned a Large Ten Coach of the 12 months and nationwide coach of the 12 months from a number of organizations. He is set single-season faculty information for wins and convention wins. With an October 11 victory over the then-No. 3 Oregon Geese, Cignetti grew to become the primary Indiana coach to defeat an AP Prime 5 workforce on the street.
With all that already underneath his belt, profitable a title could be an ending becoming for Hoosiers. Solely as an alternative of a basketball court docket, this sequel could be on the soccer area.
