As the Indiana University Hoosier football team is currently demolishing the mighty Alabama Crimson Tide, perhaps let’s take a peek under the hood.
This is their coach right after being hired two years ago for the lowly IU program. His incoming recruiting class wasn’t even in the top 10 of the Big Ten. Figure out how that’s possible to be the 16th-ranked recruiting class in a conference known as the Big Ten.
But check this attitude:
“When it comes to that culture you were just talking about, you know, meshing the recruits here you’re getting and some of the guys you kept, where does that process start?”
Cignetti rolled his eyes before the reporter could even finish asking the question and then proceeded to say he didn’t understand what was being asked.
“Well, when you recruit them, how do you sell them the vision of your culture?”
Better question. And an even better answer. Who is this guy who thinks like this and talks like this?! Well he’s the guy who is the undefeated Big Ten champion currently trashing Alabama in the quarterfinals of the college football playoff for the national championship.
“Yeah, it’s pretty simple,” Cignetti said. “I win. Google me.”
The 2023 Sun Belt Coach of the Year is right. He does win. He went 52-9 at James Madison.
He is now 78 wins against 11 losses.
An 88% winning record in college Division One Football head coaching ties him with all-time first place Knute Rockne of Notre Dame, and ahead of current legends Kirby Smart and Ryan Day of Georgia and Ohio State.
“I win.” That’s it. Nuff said.
