A good rule of thumb that you're on to something as a coach is when you enjoy more raises than seasons coached.
That's the track Curt Cignetti is on as he heads into Year 3 at Indiana -- excuse me, defending national champion Indiana.
Cignetti arrived from James Madison with a 6-year, $27 million contract. Then, after a 10-0 start, Indiana and Cignetti agreed upon an 8-year deal with a $7.3 million annual salary and a $1 million annual retention bonus.
And then Cignetti kept winning. The opening at Penn State, combined with Cignetti's 17-2 record at the time, led to another 8-year deal, this one starting at $11.6 million a year. That contract included a provision requiring Indiana to renegotiate if and when Indiana ever won a national championship, which sounded far-fetched even as the Hoosiers defeated No. 3 Oregon on the road and rose to No. 3 themselves.
Naturally, Indiana is now the reigning national champion and Cignetti has his third raise in two seasons. The agreement of the new deal was reported last month, but figures became available on Monday.
Combined with $500,000 in base salary and a $1 million annual retention bonus, Cignetti will start at $13.025 million and net annual $50,000 raises from there. Here's how it all breaks down:
2026: $13.025 million
2027: $13.075 million
2028: $13.125 million
2029: $13.175 million
2030: $13.225 million
2031: $13.275 million
2032: $13.325 million
2033: $13.375 million
Cignetti's $13.025 million package places him behind only Georgia's Kirby Smart nationally.
The terms of Cignetti's previous contract rolled over, which included a full guarantee if Cignetti is fired without cause -- a guarantee of $105.6 million.
"We are committed to investing in IU Football in such a way that we can compete at a championship level, and the No. 1 priority in doing that is ensuring that Coach Cignetti is the leader of our program," said AD Scott Dolson upon announcing the original contract back in October. "His accomplishments during the last season and a half have been nothing short of remarkable. As much as anyone, he believed in what was possible with our program, and he's turned that belief into reality. This is a great day for IU Football and Indiana University. I look forward to working alongside Coach Cignetti for many years to come."