There's good news and bad news for programs like Indiana football.
The bad news? The Hoosier's have played in just five bowl games dating back to 1995, and haven't won one since 1991.
The good news? There are programs like Kansas, Baylor, and New Mexico State who had been in a similar boat in recent years, and making a quality head coaching hire completely changed the trajectory of the entire program.
That's what Indiana is hoping they've done with the hire of Curt Cignetti.
Cignetti signed a six-year deal worth at least $27 million, according to details of the deal shared widely yesterday.
He is set to make $4.25 million during the first year of his deal ($500k base salary + $3.5 million in annual outside, marketing, and promotional income, + $250k annual retention bonus), with that figure increasing $100k through the term of the contract.
That's a steep raise from what he earned at James Madison last season, which was $677,311. Also, Indiana has agreed to pay Cignetti's buyout of $1.2 million for leaving the Dukes.
Cignetti can earn an automatic 1-year extension for leading the Hoosiers to any bowl game, and that would come with a $250k raise that would be permanently added to his compensation as well. A postseason appearance would also trigger $500k going into his staff pool allotted for assistant coaches.
Clearly, Indiana is hoping that Cingetti is the right man that will increase expectations around the program so making bowl games is an expectation, and not a contract incentive in future contracts.
The deal includes a number of other interesting incentives including:
- $50k for being named Big Ten Coach of the Year
- $100k for National Coach of the Year
- $100k for winning five Big Ten games
- $150k for winning six Big Ten games
- $250k for finishing among the top six in the Big Ten
- $500k for a second-place finish in the Big Ten
- $500k for appearing in the College Football Playoff
- $1 million for winning the Big Ten title
- $2 million for winning the national title
- $1 million for a national runner up finish
- $200k for reaching a bowl game (in addition to the $250k raise)
- $50k for winning the bowl game
If Indiana were to fire Cignetti before December 1, 2024 without cause, they would owe him $20 million. That figure decreases by $3 million each year on December 1st.
In the event that Cignetti were to resign before the end of his deal, he would owe Indiana $8 million before December 1, 2024, with that number decreasing by $2 million each year until the final two seasons of the contract, where it sits at $1 million.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.