From Slippery Rock to the Big Ten Spotlight: Curt Cignetti’s Grit, Grind, and Vision for Indiana Football’s New Era
LAS VEGAS — “You ever hear of Slippery Rock?”
Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti had a smirk on his face as he posed the question to a cluster of reporters during Big Ten Media Days at Allegiant Stadium. The question wasn’t rhetorical, but it carried with it the weight of Cignetti’s own football journey—from the obscure corners of college football to the national stage of the Big Ten.
Most in the room had heard of Slippery Rock, the small Pennsylvania school with a quirky name and a passionate football following. But for Cignetti, it wasn’t just a fun trivia question—it was the foundation of a long, determined climb that has shaped his coaching philosophy and brought him to Indiana with one goal: build a winning program.
At 63 years old, Curt Cignetti isn’t your typical first-year Big Ten coach. He doesn’t carry the youthful buzz or flashy slogans that often accompany new hires. What he brings is a track record of success, consistency, and a chip on his shoulder the size of Beaver Stadium.
“I’ve won everywhere I’ve been,” Cignetti said, no smirk this time. “And I expect to win here.”
His tone was serious, deliberate. He leaned into the microphone and made sure there was no mistaking the message: Indiana football—long considered an afterthought in the Big Ten—is under new management, and mediocrity will not be tolerated.
Cignetti’s résumé is a study in steady progression. A former quarterback at West Virginia, he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Pitt in 1983. Over the next four decades, he paid his dues: assistant roles at Rice, Temple, and NC State; quarterbacks coach at Alabama under Nick Saban; and then, his first head coaching job—at none other than Division II Slippery Rock.
Slippery Rock may not be a household name in the college football landscape, but Cignetti turned heads there quickly. In just one season (2006), he led the team to an 8-3 record—their best in years—before being hired by IUP (Indiana University of Pennsylvania), a more prestigious Division II program.
It was at IUP and then James Madison where Cignetti truly made his mark. He took IUP to multiple playoff appearances and then transformed James Madison into an FCS powerhouse, including a national championship game appearance and multiple double-digit win seasons.
Then came James Madison’s move to the FBS and Sun Belt Conference—a leap that many questioned. But Cignetti silenced the doubters yet again. In their first two years at the FBS level, JMU went 19-4 under his leadership, with a top-25 finish and a strong case for a New Year’s Six bowl.
“Every time the bar was raised, we cleared it,” Cignetti said. “That’s not by accident.”
At Indiana, Cignetti inherits a program in search of an identity. The Hoosiers haven’t had a winning season since 2020, and even that came in a COVID-shortened campaign. Their last bowl win was in 1991. The challenges are obvious: a tough Big Ten East slate, limited tradition, and recruiting disadvantages compared to conference heavyweights like Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State.
But Cignetti isn’t interested in excuses.
“This is a program that hasn’t tasted consistent success,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean it can’t.”
He’s already made significant changes. Nearly half the roster is new, bolstered by transfer portal additions from his former teams and others. He brought in much of his JMU staff, ensuring continuity and alignment in philosophy.
The early returns have been promising. Players have praised the culture shift. Practices have intensified. Expectations are being raised.
“There’s a different standard now,” senior linebacker Aaron Casey said. “Coach Cignetti came in and made that clear from day one. You either buy in or you get left behind.”
That no-nonsense attitude is part of what appealed to Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson when he hired Cignetti in December.
“We needed someone with a clear plan and proven results,” Dolson said. “Coach Cignetti has both.”
Cignetti isn’t flashy, but he’s fiercely competitive. He doesn’t chase headlines or Twitter followers. He builds programs through discipline, development, and toughness. He emphasizes complementary football—a balanced offense, a stingy defense, and special teams that don’t beat themselves.
“We’re going to play smart, physical football,” Cignetti said. “We’re not going to beat ourselves. That’s how you win games consistently.”
His track record backs it up. His teams have averaged over 10 wins per season since 2017. They’ve ranked near the top nationally in turnover margin, third-down defense, and time of possession. They don’t beat themselves.
“He’s one of the most detail-oriented coaches I’ve ever been around,” said Mike Shanahan, Indiana’s new offensive coordinator who followed Cignetti from JMU. “Every rep matters. Every meeting matters. That rubs off on the players.”
Recruiting will be key to sustaining success, and Cignetti has already shown he can find talent in overlooked places. He turned 2-star recruits into All-Americans at JMU. Now, he’ll need to do it in the Big Ten.
“It’s not always about stars,” he said. “It’s about getting the right guys—guys who fit the culture, who love football, who want to work.”
Cignetti’s arrival in the Big Ten comes at a pivotal time. The league is expanding to 18 teams this season, with USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington joining the fray. The East/West divisions are gone. A 12-team College Football Playoff is on the horizon. The money has never been bigger. The stakes have never been higher.
And amid the chaos, Indiana—long a football afterthought—is trying to carve out a place.
“Opportunity is everywhere right now,” Cignetti said. “Yeah, there’s more competition. But that also means there’s more room to grow. Why not Indiana?”
It’s a fair question. In a sport increasingly driven by TV revenue, NIL, and the transfer portal, tradition-rich programs still hold an edge—but nimble programs with strong leadership can make noise too.
Cignetti believes Indiana can be one of those programs.
“You don’t have to be born into success,” he said. “You can build it. You can earn it.”
The schedule won’t do Cignetti any favors. Indiana opens the 2025 season with a road trip to USC, followed by games against Michigan and Iowa within the first month. But the new coach welcomes the challenge.
“I’ve never backed down from a tough schedule,” he said. “You want to be the best? You’ve got to beat the best.”
And for a man who once led Slippery Rock into battle, the challenge of facing Michigan in the Big House doesn’t seem quite so daunting.
“I’ve been in cold locker rooms and rode yellow school buses to games,” Cignetti said with a chuckle. “This? This is the big time. And I’m ready for it.”
There’s a twinkle in his eye now—not just from the bright lights of Las Vegas, but from the belief that he can do something special in Bloomington. He’s not promising miracles. He’s not selling dreams. He’s building something real.
“Football’s football,” he said. “It doesn’t change just because the stadium’s bigger or the logo’s different. You block, you tackle, you execute. And if you do it better than the other guy, you win.”
It’s a simple philosophy. But sometimes, the simplest things are the hardest to master.
Curt Cignetti knows that better than most. And if Indiana buys in, the rest of the Big Ten just might hear a new noise coming from Bloomington this fall—one that sounds a lot like belief.
