Here’s everything you need to know about Curt Cignetti’s contract with the Indiana Hoosiers.
Curt Cignetti’s contract details: What’s the Indiana Hoosiers football coach’s salary and how many years are left?
Since arriving in Bloomington, Curt Cignetti has rewritten the script for Indiana University football. Hired in late 2023, Cignetti quickly transformed a side long mired in losing seasons into a top-tier contender and College Football Playoff participant.
Cignetti’s current contract runs until Nov. 30, 2033, meaning he has about eight more seasons on his deal as of early 2026. Originally, Indiana offered him a six-year deal when he was hired, but as the Hoosiers’ success grew, that was superseded by new agreements.
Financially, Cignetti is now among college football’s elite in terms of compensation. His latest extension, agreed in October 2025, carries an approximate annual pay of $11.6 million, making him one of the highest-paid head coaches in the sport.
The figure includes a modest base salary (approximately $500,000) with the rest coming from outside, marketing, and promotional earnings, plus retention bonuses.
On top of that base, Cignetti receives a yearly retention bonus that starts at $1 million and increases over time, as well as potential incentives tied to team performance. For instance, deep runs into the Big Ten or College Football Playoff can add significant payouts, such as bonuses for conference championships or national semifinals and title game appearances.
Buyout terms in his deal are also noteworthy. If Cignetti opted to leave Indiana for another coaching job, the buyout required varies by year but starts at roughly $15 million early in the contract and decreases over time. If Indiana were to fire him without cause, however, the school must pay him 100 percent of his remaining contractual compensation, including salary and bonuses, through 2033.
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