There are plenty of characteristics about Curt Cignetti that make him a great college football coach. His no-nonsense attitude, tough demeanor, and ability to motivate his players have helped him orchestrate arguably the greatest turnarounds in all of sports at the helm of the Indiana football program. Furthermore, Cignetti’s strong work ethic and competitive mindset have made him a respected leader both on and off the field.
But one of the more under-the-radar ways in which Cignetti has turned Indiana into a national powerhouse is by not wasting anybody's time. For Cignetti, time management is of the utmost importance.
Efficient practices have become a hallmark of Curt Cignetti's success
We've all been had tasks that take longer than expected, been in meetings that could have been an email, and dealt with situations where constant confusion and lack of planning leads to prolonged processes. That is not an enjoyable experience in any setting, and Cignetti has firm procedures in place to avoid those instances.
Time management and efficiency are the hallmarks of an Indiana practice under Curt Cignetti. ESPN’s Jake Trotter attended a recent practice in Bloomington and was quick to point out just how smoothly and efficiently everything operated.
"Practice has no clock and no breaks," Trotter reported. "Nobody stands around. Not a moment is wasted." For Cignetti, that's exactly how it should be. In total, Cignetti's practices typically wrap up with 90 minutes––that includes time for walk-through, stretching, and practice. That 90-minute time slot is about an hour shorter than practices at many programs around the country.
Linebacker Isaiah Jones has Cignetti's practice regimen down. "One thing with Coach Cig, he respects the coaches' and players' time highly," Jones told ESPN. "But don't F with his time. Don't jog. Don't be lazy. That's his time. That's his practice time. "You go hard out there, he's going to give you the off time."
Incoming transfer players have quickly needed to get accustomed to Cignetti's practice schedule. RT Joe Brunner spent the past four seasons at Wisconsin, and got used to three-hour practices. "I was used to longer practices, standing around for a little bit longer and listening a little bit more," Brunner told Trotter. "But here, we're putting our hand in the ground and doing the work so much quicker... you're in and out in less than two hours."
Curt Cignetti continues to stress the importance of maximizing every minute
Back during spring practice, the Hoosiers were dealing with a high number of injuries. In fact, a total of 17 players missed the spring game. Thus, getting back to full health throughout the summer and fall camp was a top priority for Indiana over the offseason.
That mission appears to be have been successful, as the Hoosiers hardly have any injury concerns heading into Week 1. It's often said that the best ability is availability, and Cignetti's efficient practices helped in that effort.
No wasted movement. No wasted time. Those have been two key staples of Cignetti's philosophy for avoiding injuries. The IU coaching staff prioritizes taking care of players by not overexposing them to potentially harmful activities. A strong emphasis is placed on keeping players as healthy and fresh as possible by avoiding unnecessary wear and tear and carefully managing their workload.
Short and efficient practices help keep players in a rhythm, and in turn, get them in and out of practice in a timely manner. Injuries aren't always 100% avoidable, but it's clear that Cignetti's process is working––and the players have bought in. This allows his team to be fresh and shine brightest in the biggest moments. Look no further than last year's National Championship run.
The Hoosiers were running laps around Alabama and Oregon, and then had enough gas in the tank to take down Miami in the title game. Cignetti's practice formula has yielded elite results, and Hoosier fans are hoping for more of the same in 2026 and beyond.
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