The wildest school soccer teaching cycle ever is about to enter a pivotal section. After firings started at Energy 4 applications in mid-September — and, at Stanford, method again in late March — the hirings are coming quickly.
Applications will survey completely different candidate profiles, making an attempt to determine one of the best obtainable coach for his or her particular locations. However there’s one hiring course of, and one candidate profile, that deserves nearer examination from nearly any program.
Everybody needs to be looking for the following Coach Cig.
Indiana’s hiring of Curt Cignetti from James Madison on Nov. 30, 2023, did not appear seismic or uncommon on the time. Different hires within the cycle generated extra buzz, throughout the Massive Ten (Jonathan Smith at Michigan State) and past it (Mike Elko at Texas A&M). The January 2024 frenzy that included Kalen DeBoer leaving Washington to switch Nick Saban at Alabama and Michigan selling Sherrone Moore to switch Jim Harbaugh blew up far more than Cignetti taking the IU job.
Cignetti was a revered coach however largely off the radar, having received at James Madison and two applications beneath the FBS. He hadn’t coached within the Energy 4 since 2010. He was 62 years outdated. His rent obtained stable opinions however had a wait-and-see really feel about it.
Two years later, every part has modified for Indiana soccer. The group received a file 11 video games in 2024 and made its first Faculty Soccer Playoff look. Indiana is at present ranked No. 2 within the CFP standings and certain for the Massive Ten championship sport and one other playoff spot. Cignetti has already obtained two adjusted contracts and has risen to No. 3 in wage amongst coaches ($11.6 million). The losingest program in main school soccer is 21-2 underneath Cignetti.
What qualities did Indiana see in Cignetti which have allowed him to raise this system to unthinkable heights? Maybe extra essential, what parts about him had been missed or missed, which doubtless delayed his return to the Energy 4?
ESPN spoke with a number of folks concerned within the Cignetti rent to evaluate the elements — or Cig-redients — which have led to his success, what different colleges needs to be searching for and likewise the candidates within the present cycle who examine among the similar containers.
“In case you really need to discover that subsequent man, it isn’t going to hit you within the face,” a supply mentioned. “It is peeling the onion, it is attending to that second or third layer.”
Bounce to:
Who could possibly be the following Cignetti?
1. Winner at a number of ranges
Penn State’s firing of James Franklin on Oct. 12 positioned a distinct deal with the oft-debated matter of teaching success. What actually issues when evaluating win-loss data? Franklin was fired for not beating sufficient top-10 opponents at PSU. When Nebraska’s Matt Rhule emerged as a attainable substitute, his struggles in opposition to extremely ranked groups had been instantly cited.
However are sufficient colleges evaluating coaches who’ve received at a number of ranges and at a number of applications? DeBoer rose from Japanese Michigan offensive coordinator in 2016 to Alabama head coach in 2024, however he additionally went 67-3 with three NAIA nationwide titles at Sioux Falls.
Cignetti, in the meantime, was not simply an rising coach at a Group of 5 college, going 52-9 at James Madison, when Indiana employed him. He additionally had two successful seasons and FCS playoff appearances at Elon, which had had only one playoff look earlier than he arrived. Cignetti additionally went 53-17 at Indiana-Pennsylvania, making three Division II playoff appearances.
He additionally had skilled success not solely at lower-level applications. Cignetti was a part of Nick Saban’s unique employees at Alabama and helped the Crimson Tide to a nationwide title in 2009.
“We needed somebody who had received and constantly received,” an Indiana supply mentioned. “All these experiences made him method, far more ready than if he’d simply been the offensive coordinator sooner or later in Alabama and gotten a head teaching job. We felt that different applications, it does translate.”
First-time head coaches who bounce from coordinator roles at high applications have had national-level success: Georgia’s Kirby Good, Ohio State’s Ryan Day, Oregon’s Dan Lanning, Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman and Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham are all examples. Others parlayed prompt success of their first head teaching jobs into greater alternatives, corresponding to Eliah Drinkwitz shifting to Missouri after a single 12-1 season at Appalachian State.
However Cignetti has proven that breadth of success issues, particularly at applications on completely different ranges.
“Once they’ve performed it at a number of locations, then it means that you can have a better sense of consolation of: It isn’t only a useful resource factor,” an trade supply mentioned.
2. A hands-on strategy towards personnel
Each school coach portrays himself as being instantly concerned in personnel. However the actuality is with common managers, rising personnel departments and the cost of athletes by means of income sharing, some head coaches are extra overseers and delegators in how their rosters are constructed.
Not Cignetti.
He served as Alabama’s recruiting coordinator throughout his time there with Saban, and he has continued to carefully consider each participant he is contemplating as a recruit or a switch. As a head coach in Division II and the FCS, Cignetti maintained a hands-on philosophy. Even after taking on applications with better sources, he did not step away one bit.
In contrast to virtually each different program within the Energy 4, Indiana doesn’t have a common supervisor.
“I am the GM and head coach,” Cignetti mentioned in July at Massive Ten media day. “I am organized, I am good with numbers. My identify is on this. I spent a number of years getting so far, I am one of the best one to do it.”
Some may label his stance as boastful, nevertheless it caught Indiana’s consideration within the hiring course of.
“He has to ‘OK’ each participant added to the roster,” an IU supply mentioned. “Not everyone does that. A number of [head coaches] do not. They could simply let their place coach decide who they need to recruit. He is going to have a look at each one in all them.”
Cignetti’s hands-on strategy with who performs for him could be more and more more durable to search out, given how applications are altering. Common managers have essential roles, as do participant personnel administrators and others concerned in analysis and expertise acquisition. However these searching for the following Cignetti ought to prioritize coaches who lean into the personnel course of, not away from it.
“All these guys are including increasingly more employees and a GM and delegating extra,” mentioned a supply concerned in Indiana’s rent of Cignetti. “This man, he desires to the touch all of it. We’re getting away from that, however he does it extraordinarily properly.”
3. A transparent imaginative and prescient for this system
When Cignetti got here to Indiana, many received wrapped up within the blustery proclamations he made, from his basketball court docket intro to “I win. Google me.” However he additionally relayed a program plan that had been sharpened for a few years.
Indiana followers who watched Cignetti’s introductory information convention, or have heard from him throughout the previous few years, would spot the parallels with what he mentioned at his Elon intro in early 2017. He talked about working good, being progressive, discovering an edge, enjoying up-tempo, having excessive requirements, being accountable and avoiding complacency.
“It isn’t tacky, it isn’t corny, it’s reputable,” mentioned a supply near Cignetti. “Core ideas that he has believed in his whole teaching profession. No. 1, it isn’t bulls—.”
A few of the tenets Cignetti cited are echoed by different coaches, in job interviews and after they’re launched at new locations. However how he relayed his plan caught with these concerned in his hiring at Indiana.
“He is very matter-of-fact,” one individual mentioned. “He would not waste a number of time and vitality, would not attempt to impress folks. He is supremely assured with out being a jerk or an egomaniac. He is received a number of humility, as a result of he is put within the time to know what he is aware of and be assured in it.”
At his Elon introduction, he talked about having “no self-imposed limitations” for the group. At his Indiana introduction, he mentioned, “Common is the enemy.”
“He is aware of he can win,” an Indiana supply mentioned. “That is not likely ego. That is simply him.”
4. The flexibility to deliver alongside key assistants and gamers
Teaching strikes in school soccer are not often nearly a person. Offensive coordinators are actually employed with the hope or assure that they’re going to deliver proficient quarterbacks with them, as Ben Arbuckle did for Oklahoma (John Mateer) or Jason Beck did for Utah (Devon Dampier).
Head coaches are evaluated by means of the lens of who may be part of them and transition properly to a much bigger stage. Cignetti’s success at Indiana has loads to do with him, but in addition the important thing assistants and gamers who joined him from James Madison and have thrived at IU.
He introduced alongside main coordinators Mike Shanahan (offense), Bryant Haines (protection) and Grant Cain (particular groups). Haines, a finalist for the Broyles Award (nation’s high assistant) in his first season at Indiana, has been with Cignetti in any respect 4 of his head teaching stops. Cain is in his seventh season on Cignetti’s employees, whereas Shanahan is in his fourth. Cignetti additionally had energy and conditioning chief Derek Owings, who joined him at James Madison in 2020, come to Indiana.
“Having a constant employees was actually essential,” an Indiana supply mentioned. “We decided that was an actual indicator of success. When folks have a number of turnover, it led to a number of inconsistencies.”
Indiana embraced Cignetti’s need to deliver others with him to Bloomington, however not all Energy 4 applications are as keen to take action.
“There are others that assume, ‘Hey I would like you to be my head coach, but when we will scoop down and decide you up from that degree, you are actually going to want to rent a [higher-profile] offensive coordinator or defensive coordinator,'” a supply concerned in IU’s course of mentioned. “Typically it really works. Most of the time, it would not.”
Cignetti additionally had a number of of JMU’s high gamers switch to Indiana, the place they instantly turned All-Massive Ten performers: linebacker Aiden Fisher, cornerback D’Angelo Ponds, extensive receiver Elijah Sarratt, defensive finish Mikail Kamara. Regardless that the gamers moved from the Solar Belt to the Massive Ten, their familiarity with Cignetti, the opposite coaches and the schemes has made the transition smoother than anybody may have imagined.
“He struck gold in bringing that employees and hitting on the transfers he did the final two years,” a supply mentioned.
Who’re the Cignetti-like candidates on the market?
The seek for the following Curt Cignetti should start with this premise: There are not any precise replicas.
“He is one in all one,” an Indiana supply mentioned, “however I feel you might discover coaches which can be much like him.”
There are specific parts to Cignetti’s profile that in all probability will not be present in a candidate pool, like corresponding to his determination to depart Saban for a Division II head- teaching job and a big pay reduce. However there are different credentials that match up, and will assist sure candidates get longer seems to be.
Here is a fast have a look at 10 present school head coaches who may match the Cignetti mannequin:
James Madison coach Bob Chesney
Age: 48
Bio blast: The person who changed Cignetti at JMU has some parallels in his background, particularly success as a non-FBS head coach. Chesney went 44-21 at Holy Cross, an FCS program, and likewise had very profitable runs at Assumption College (Division II, Brian Kelly’s alma mater) and at Division III Salve Regina. He is 128-51 general and has by no means had a shedding season, successful 10 or extra video games 4 occasions. Chesney had not coached within the FBS earlier than JMU and has by no means labored at a Energy 4 program, however he is 17-5 with the Dukes and 8-1 this yr. A number of of his assistants have been with him at a number of stops, together with offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy and particular groups coordinator Drew Canan.
Houston coach Willie Fritz
Age: 65
Bio blast: Fritz is the one Energy 4 coach showing right here and may find yourself ending his wonderful profession at Houston. However his credentials nonetheless benefit shut examination for a group in search of a Cig sort. Fritz has been a head coach since 1993, first at Blinn junior school at Texas, and at Central Missouri and Sam Houston earlier than incomes his first FBS gig at Georgia Southern. He received two junior school nationwide titles at Blinn, twice reached the FCS nationwide title sport at Sam Houston and received league titles in any respect 5 of his earlier teaching stops, together with Tulane, the place he went 23-4 in his remaining two seasons and went to the Cotton Bowl. Houston is the primary Energy 4 program the place Fritz has labored, however the group is 8-2 in his second season there.
Age: 48
Bio blast: New Mexico’s success in Eck’s first season has showcased his colourful character to a bigger school soccer viewers. Eck is a personality, and has confirmed to be a proficient head coach as he has New Mexico bowl-eligible for the primary time since 2016. A former Wisconsin offensive lineman who performed on the 1998 Massive Ten and Rose Bowl championship group, Eck was a profession offensive line coach till 2022, when he took over this system at Idaho. He coached the offensive line within the FBS at Ball State, however has principally coached within the FCS, together with at nationwide energy South Dakota State. Eck led Idaho to 3 straight playoff appearances and consecutive No. 8 finishes earlier than coming to New Mexico.
Temple coach Ok.C. Keeler
Age: 66
Bio blast: Like Fritz, Keeler has been a university head coach since 1993 and had unimaginable success at a number of ranges of the game. The Pennsylvania native began at Division III Rowan, reaching the playoffs seven occasions in 9 years and making 5 championship sport appearances. He then went to Delaware, his alma mater, and received the FCS (then Division I-AA) nationwide title in 2003, and returned to the championship sport in each 2007 and 2010. Keeler then left his residence space for Texas and Sam Houston State, the place in 2021 he turned the primary coach to win FCS nationwide titles at two colleges. He had six seasons of 10 or extra wins at Sam Houston State and guided the group’s transition to the FBS. Keeler is 5-5 in his first season at Temple, which has not received greater than three video games since 2019.
Age: 45
Bio blast: Mack’s profession journey could be closest to Cignetti’s, given the various ranges the place he has coached. A large receiver at Jackson State and Arkansas State, Mack coached wideouts at a number of stops, together with Memphis, earlier than changing into a head coach at North Carolina Central, an HBCU, the place he went 31-15 with 4 successful seasons, three MEAC titles and a Celebration Bowl look. Mack then gained offensive coordinator expertise at Rice earlier than coming to Tennessee, the place he coached operating backs from 2021 to 2023. After a yr within the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he landed his first FBS job with Kennesaw State, which is 7-2 and 5-0 in Convention USA. Mack’s various expertise and ties to the South and Southeast make him an intriguing candidate for future cycles.
Military coach Jeff Monken
Age: 58
Bio blast: Monken’s long-term success at Military is staggering. Military received greater than 5 video games simply as soon as between 1997 and 2016, when Monken led the group to eight victories after which received 21 video games over the following two seasons. He has six seasons of eight or extra wins at Military, together with final season, when the Black Knights went 12-2, received the American of their first season as a league member and completed No. 22 within the remaining CFP standings. Monken additionally had success in his first head- teaching cease, guiding Georgia Southern to 2 league titles and three straight FCS semifinals appearances. He has Energy 4 expertise at Georgia Tech as an assistant in 2008 and 2009. Monken’s affiliation with the triple -option offense has doubtless prevented him from touchdown a Energy 4 gig, however few coaches are extra deserving after what he’ has performed at Military.
UTSA coach Jeff Traylor
Age: 57
Bio blast: He spent the primary 25 years of his teaching profession at Texas excessive colleges, most notably in his hometown of Gilmer, the place he led the group to 3 state titles and 5 championship sport appearances. Traylor went 175-26 at Gilmer earlier than changing into an FBS assistant at Texas, SMU and Arkansas. Regardless of combined outcomes with these groups, he landed his first school head- teaching gig at UTSA and dramatically elevated this system, going 23-5 from 2021 to 2022 with two convention titles. This system entered the American and has successful seasons in every of its first two years. Regardless of an up-and-down 2025, Traylor is 50-25 at UTSA. Few school coaches are higher related throughout the state of Texas.
Age: 46
Bio blast: The lpast three North Dakota State coaches both left for FBS head- teaching jobs or, in Matt Entz’s case, an USC assistant function that he parlayed into the lead gig at Fresno State. Polasek actually could possibly be the following to make the bounce after successful the FCS nationwide title in his first yr as Bison head coach, and beginning this season at 10-0. In contrast to predecessors Entz and Chris Klieman, Polasek has significant Energy 4 expertise to attract from after teaching Iowa’s offensive line from 2017 to 2020. The Wisconsin native has spent his profession within the Midwest or the Nice Plains area and tasks as a candidate for jobs within the nation’s midsection.
Age: 40
Bio blast: Morris is far youthful than anybody else on the checklist, and I debated whether or not to incorporate him as his time as an assistant occurred at two energy -conference applications (Texas Tech and Washingtton State on the time). However his transfer from Texas Tech offensive coordinator to steer this system at FCS Incarnate Phrase stood out. He led this system to 2 convention titles and playoff appearances, successful 10 video games in his remaining season. Morris then moved to North Texas, which is 8-1 in his third season and presumably certain for the American Convention championship sport. He has developed a popularity for figuring out and creating under-the-radar quarterbacks like corresponding to Cam Ward, John Mateer and present North Texas starter Drew Mestemaker.
Age: 48
Bio blast: Consistency on the Group of 5 degree is not straightforward, particularly within the switch portal period, however Helton has achieved it at Western Kentucky. He has received eight or extra video games in 5 of his first six seasons with the Hilltoppers, and is 7-2 this fall. Though WKU hasn’t received a league title, it twice reached the Convention USA championship sport and has constantly had one of many nation’s high passing offenses. Helton has spent most of his teaching profession on the Group of 5 degree, principally at colleges within the American Convention and WKU, however he additionally gained Energy 4 expertise at each USC and Tennessee.
