Indiana University's football team has capped a historic season with a key accolade for its head coach. Curt Cignetti was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year, a unanimous nod from both conference coaches and the media, as Indiana Public Media reports. Highlighting a year of firsts for the Hoosiers, Cignetti led the team to an 11-1 record, the program's most wins in its history, and an expectation for a slot in the upcoming College Football Playoffs.

The standout season represents a significant turnaround, as the Hoosiers had only won three Big Ten games over the past three years before Cignetti's tenure began. Additionally, the team's defense ranked second nationwide, featuring first team All-Big Ten selections for stalwarts like defensive lineman Mikail Kamara, and linebacker Aiden Fisher, according to WRTV. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke also made waves with his second team placement behind Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel.

Recognition from the coaching community and media alike isn't new to Cignetti. It's his fourth such honor, having previously been named coach of the year in three different conferences before his Big Ten recognition. His success at Indiana University has been rewarded with a hefty eight-year contract extension, worth an average annual value of $8 million, throwing, a clear signal of the university's long-term commitment to their head coach, as reported by FOX59.

The Big Ten accolade places Cignetti in esteemed company within the Indiana University football legacy, becoming the third individual at the helm to receive the honor. He follows in the footsteps of past IU coaches Bill Mallory and Tom Allen, who won in 1986 and 2020, respectively. "I love Bloomington and am grateful for how the IU community has embraced us," Cignetti said, in a statement obtained by FOX59. "I look forward to leading this outstanding program and doing my part to continue the momentum for Hoosier football."