Indiana coach Curt Cignetti joked about retirement following the Hoosiers’ championship victory Monday night, but he’s staying put in Bloomington.
“If I were really smart, I’d probably retire. Then I’d really be a story, but we need the money,” Cignetti said during his post-game press conference after Indiana completed its 16-0 season with a national title win over Miami.
The 64-year-old coach is positioned to become one of college football’s highest-paid coaches. His contract includes a clause triggering renegotiation after winning the national championship.
“If I were really smart, I’d probably retire. Then I’d really be a story, but we need the money.”
Speculation about Cignetti’s future emerged earlier this month when NFL opportunities surfaced. The Pittsburgh Steelers opening drew particular attention given his hometown connections.
Those discussions appear finished now.
Cignetti is staying at Indiana to defend the title. The Hoosiers will lose Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza at quarterback but have secured TCU transfer Josh Hoover as his replacement.
Hoover arrives with significant expectations for a program that’s transformed under Cignetti’s leadership.
Cignetti’s career path reads like a coaching fairy tale. He worked as a Nick Saban assistant before taking the Division II job at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Stops at Elon and James Madison followed before landing at Indiana.
The transformation he’s orchestrated in Bloomington cements his legacy regardless of what comes next.
Cignetti could retire tomorrow and be remembered forever. He could also likely write his own contract terms moving forward.
Either way, he’s already a Hoosiers legend.
