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IN
Big Ten🛡️ Ironclad Stability (5/5)

Curt Cignetti

Head Football Coach Indiana (Hoosiers)

Current Buyout Owed (Today)
$93,000,000
86 months remaining (2632 days)
Annual Salary
$11,600,000
Base + Supplemental Talent
Contract Expires
2033-11-30
Hired: 2023-11-30
Coach Leaves Buyout
$12,500,000
Owed if leaving for NFL / Rival
Daily Amortization
$26,995
Buyout drops each day
University Firing Coach (Without Cause)

School Owes Coach: $93,000,000

Contract buyout as tracked by official reporting: $56,700,000.

Payment Structure:Annual Installments
Duty to Mitigate (Offsets):No (Guaranteed regardless of new job)
Total Remaining Unearned Salary:$83,589,870
Coach Departs Voluntarily (Poaching Clause)

Coach / Hiring School Owes: $12,500,000

If Curt Cignetti accepts a position as head coach with another collegiate program or an NFL franchise prior to 2033-11-30, he or his new employer is legally bound to pay this liquidated departure penalty.

Departure Fee:$12,500,000
School Retention Leverage:Very High (Deterrent)
Coaching Stance & Contractual Security

Job Stability vs. The Hot Seat

How Our Two-Axis Model Works
0/5 Votes

Pending Fan Consensus

Tension Rating: Stability (5/5) • Hot Seat (Pending)

Contract Job Stability is rated Ironclad Stability. Awaiting 5 more community vote(s) to officially establish the Hot Seat alignment.

Contract Job Stability
Level 5 / 5
Ironclad Stability
Untouchable Buyout$93,000,000 Buyout Firewall

Astronomical buyout penalty renders firing virtually prohibitive without extraordinary outside booster funding.

Contract Safeguard: Contract buyout as tracked by official reporting: $56,700,000.
Mitigation Duty: None (fully guaranteed sum)
The Hot Seat (Community Consensus)
Consensus Building
Consensus Building0 / 5 Votes

Hot Seat score requires at least 5 votes to show, only 0 votes cast so far.

5 more votes needed to unlock public heat score. Cast your vote below!

Interactive Amortization Simulator for Curt Cignetti

Interactive Financial Modeler

Simulate Termination Date & Buyout Cost

See how contract amortization, date milestones, and mitigation clauses reduce buyout liability over time.

IN
Curt CignettiUntouchable
IndianaBig Ten • Contract thru 2033-11-30
Annual Salary
$11,600,000
Current Buyout (Today)
$93,000,000
Selected Date: 2026-09-16 (2632 days remaining on contract)
Or pick any exact date:
Buyout Owed on 2026-09-16
$93,000,000
Official USA Today Verified Buyout
Savings by Delaying to This Date
$0
Natural amortization saves $26,995 / day
If Coach Leaves Voluntarily
$12,500,000
Amount coach / hiring team owes Indiana

Duty to Mitigate (New Job Offset Analysis)

No Mitigation Required (Full Guarantee)
Important: Curt Cignetti's contract does not mandate an affirmative duty to mitigate. Even if he takes another job paying millions tomorrow, Indiana is legally obligated to continue paying the full buyout amount with zero offset!

Contract Calculation Formula:

USA Today FOIA benchmark: $93,000,000. Salary and buyout adjusted based on verified October 2025 contract reporting which supersedes the previous baseline and the unverified $13.2M figure.

💡 By waiting 6 months, natural salary amortization reduces buyout liability by ~$4.93M.

Key Contractual Stipulations
  • Eight-year contract term through November 2033
  • Fully guaranteed contract unless fired for cause
  • Average annual compensation of $11.6 million
  • Includes performance-based incentives

Salary and buyout adjusted based on verified October 2025 contract reporting which supersedes the previous baseline and the unverified $13.2M figure.

Source & Public Records Citations

Verified Public & News Reference Sources (2):

Indiana signs Curt Cignetti to new 8-year contract amid Penn State speculationThe Athletic • 2025-10-16
View Source
Indiana University and Football Coach Curt Cignetti Agree to New Eight-Year Contract Through 2033Indiana Athletics Official Records • 2025-10-16
View Source

FOIA Verified: As an arm of state government, Indiana releases employment agreements and board-approved amendments under public records legislation.