{"id":765729,"date":"2026-02-21T01:19:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T01:19:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/765729\/"},"modified":"2026-02-21T01:19:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T01:19:19","slug":"indiana-head-coach-curt-cignetti-handed-eye-watering-new-contract-after-winning-national-championship-heres-exactly-how-much-hell-earn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/765729\/","title":{"rendered":"Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti handed eye-watering new contract after winning national championship… here’s exactly how much he’ll earn"},"content":{"rendered":"

By JAKE FENNER, US SPORTS WRITER<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 14:24 EST, 20 February 2026 | Updated: 14:30 EST, 20 February 2026 <\/p>\n

After leading the Indiana<\/a> Hoosiers to their first ever football national title, coach Curt Cignetti has finalized a new contract which will keep him at IU through the 2033 season.<\/p>\n

According to multiple reports, Cignetti’s new deal will pay him an average of $13.2million per season.<\/p>\n

At that average annual value, Cignetti is now tied with Georgia’s Kirby Smart and LSU’s Lane Kiffin as the highest paid coach in the sport.<\/p>\n

Back in October, Indiana administrators announced a new deal for the coach which included a ‘good market faith review’ if the Hoosiers made the College Football Playoff semifinals.<\/p>\n

Not only did they do that, the Hoosiers finished the season undefeated with a national title.<\/p>\n

Per the terms of his contract, the review required the two sides to meet within 120 days of the CFP semifinal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Indiana <\/p>\n

Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti is now tied as the highest-paid coach in college football<\/p>\n

\"A <\/p>\n

A clause in Cignetti’s contract triggered a salary review after he won the CFP semifinal<\/p>\n

IU would also be required to increase Cignetti’s salary to rank no lower than third among all active head coaches.<\/p>\n

It’s the third time that Cignetti’s contract has been adjusted within the past two seasons. His initial deal was for six-years, $27million.<\/p>\n

Since moving to Bloomington, Cignetti has put up a 27-2 record, won the national title and earned Indiana its first outright Big Ten championship since 1945.<\/p>\n

Cignetti has hinted in the past that he wishes to retire at the school.<\/p>\n

‘I couldn’t be more proud to be a Hoosier,’ Cignetti said. ‘The way that this state has embraced us and our success in football has meant more to me than anything else.’<\/p>\n

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