Indiana football hires James Madison head coach Curt Cignetti as 30th coach in program history

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Indiana University has finalized a deal to hire James Madison head coach Curt Cignetti as it's next football coach.

ESPN football senior writer Pete Thamel first reported the potential hire Thursday. Cignetti led James Madison to an 11-1 record this season and was named the Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year.

Cignetti is the 30th coach in program history.

"I am very excited to welcome Curt Cignetti as the head football coach at Indiana University," IU Athetics Director Scott Dolson said in a news release. "We had a very talented and deep pool of candidates, and Curt stood out thanks to an incredible track record of success over more than four decades in college football. As a head coach he's succeeded everywhere he's been, and as an assistant he has been a part of championship cultures while working alongside some of the game's best coaches. I appreciate the tremendous support throughout this process of Chair Quinn Buckner and the IU Board of Trustees and President Pam Whitten, all of whom were critical in making this day a reality."

IU fired Tom Allen after the Hoosiers finished with a 3-9 record. Allen and IU agreed to a $15.5 million buyout.

Cignetti, 62, has been at James Madison for the last five seasons and went 52-9 with three conference titles and a No. 24 ranking this past season.

"I am excited to lead this program forward and change the culture, mindset, and expectation level of Hoosier football," Cignetti said in a news release. "I want to thank Director of Athletics Scott Dolson and President Pam Whitten, and I look forward to working with both in building something special at IU. Both share my vision and belief that big things are ahead for the IU program."

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