The ‘Cignetti’ name is quite big in Indiana football. This season, the Hoosiers are playing incredible ball, so far undefeated with the record (9-0) along with the Oregon Ducks. Being undefeated in the Big 10 is a different level of achievement, right? The success behind Indiana Hoosiers is none other than their head coach, Curt Cignetti. Recognized for his knack for developing players and establishing competitive teams, just like former Indiana coach Frank Cignetti Sr! Could it be a coincidence, or is there a connection between them? 

Recently, Indiana’s head coach sat down with Nicole Auerbach to answer some most Googled questions about him. One of the most asked questions was “Is Curt Cignetti related to Frank Cignetti?” Former James Madison HC cleared the air with high praises for his dad, Frank Cignetti. “Yeah, a great man, real leader, helped a lot of people in life. Really highly thought of back in, you know, Pennsylvania and the places he’s been, strong work ethic and great character, real upfront honest guy, would tell you what was on his mind, you may not like it all the time, but it was for your good,” he said.

The Cignetti name is football royalty. Curt’s dad, Frank Cignetti Sr., was a legendary coach at West Virginia and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. And the football talent doesn’t stop there. Curt’s brother Frank Cignetti Jr. was a successful offensive coordinator and quarterback coach in the NFL. Now, Curt Cignetti is not only carrying on his family’s football legacy but also deeply appreciates his father’s influence on his life, calling him a “role model.” His dad, a legendary coach, enjoyed a Hall of Fame career before sadly passing away at 84 from cancer. However, growing up with such a great role model shaped Curt’s passion for the game.

You know, playing for your dad’s team is a cool accomplishment. Only a few have exceeded it. Curtis opens up about playing for his dad in West Virginia for a season, as he added, “I was a redshirt freshman, I was a pretty average player. I wasn’t terrific talent.“ He then reflected on the mix of honor and pressure that comes with living up to that family legacy. He kept it quite real, which shows his humble attitude about his playing days. This eventually made him a better coach than he was a player.

Playoff Hopes for Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers!

Curt Cignetti is one of the few powerhouse coaches in college football. His coaching style emphasizes powerful defense and team cohesion. He has a proven track record in James Madison and now bought the winning culture for Indiana football. Cris Cignetti joined the Hoosier in November 2023, during the end of the season. Since then, the Hoosiers went on an overall record of 13-1. Taking a team from (3-9) to (9-0) in one season is an incredible feat and potentially makes it to the Playoffs. No doubt about it. 

The Indiana Hoosiers are (9-0) for the first time in their program’s history. On November 2nd, after their impressive one-sided win over Michigan State, it’s undeniably absurd not to put them in the playoff spot. Their starting QB Kurtis Rourke came back from his right thumb injury and balled out today. Rourke threw for 263 yards and 4 touchdowns and the team is still looking solid and are ready for the big boys.

Now, the challenges are ahead for Hoosier football, and one might make an argument that they have one of the easiest schedules. Well, the real challenge for them is against the Ohio State Buckeyes on week 13. This matchup is going to expose who’s the real deal in the Big 10 conference. Nonetheless, the Hoosiers look playoff-ready, or is it they just had an easy schedule?