BLOOMINGTON — Any team trying to lure Curt Cignetti away from Indiana football would have to pay a steep price.
There’s speculation Penn State could target Cignetti after firing James Franklin over the weekend. Cignetti is a Pittsburgh native who got his start as a head coach in the state at Indiana University of Pennsylvania from 2011-16.
Indiana was proactive about signing Cignetti to a new deal during the team’s unprecedented 10-0 start last season that added significant financial protection in case opposing teams came calling.
Here are the details on Cignetti’s buyout protection:
How much Curt Cignetti would owe Indiana football if he left for another school?
If Cignetti were to resign before the end of his most recent contract for any reason he would owe the university “liquidated damages” that are spelled out in the agreement. Cignetti would owe the school $13 million if he resigns before Dec. 1. The amount goes down to $10 million the following year, and goes all the way down to $1 million during the final year of his deal.
The contract states that damages exceeding $2 million will be paid out in two installments — 50% within 30 days and the remaining 50% within 365 days.
Per a source, there have been no additional amendments or changes to that deal since it was signed.
While Cignetti would be responsible for the damages, it is standard practice for the school a coach is departing to pick up the tab. IU covered the $1.2 million Cignetti owed James Madison when he was hired in 2023.
For comparison, Nebraska coach Matt Rhule would owe Nebraska $5 million if he leaves the school to take a football-related job with another school before Dec. 31, 2025.
How much does Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti make?
Amidst IU’s 10-0 start last year, Indiana inked Cignetti to a new contract through 2032 that more than doubled his salary to more than $8 million a year and paid him an annual retention bonus of $1 million. Cignetti also got a guarantee in the contract that he would have salary pool for on-field and support staff that’s ranked among the highest in the country of $11 million per year.
He was the 18th highest-paid head coach in the USA Today’s salary database for 2025 and tied for fifth highest in the Big Ten.
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Learn about the Curt Cignetti buyout and how much schools would pay for the IU coach
Reporting by Michael Niziolek, The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
