Curt Cignetti is named a finalist for yet another Coach of the Year award

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti made one thing clear when he took over at Indiana, and it was that he wins football games if you want to know how good he is, he will have two works for you.

Google me.

Cignetti took over a beat-down Indiana football team that has not had a winning season since 2019. He took over a team that just gets through their season so that fans can get to basketball season, where the Hoosiers shine.

Under Cigneti though, he turned Indiana into a school that gets excited about football and doesn't just look forward to basketball season. The long-time head coach took the Hoosiers from 3-9 in 2023 to 11-2 in 2024 with an appearance in the College Football Playoff. Cignetti proved he can win anywhere, even at a place that is not known for winning a lot when it comes to football.

For all that he has done, Cignetti has earned a lot of awards, like the Paul "Bear" Bryant Big Ten Coach of the Year Award, and he is in line to win another Bear Bryant Award. Cignetti was recently named one of eight finalists for the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Award.

Cignettis is up for the award with a slew of great coaches, such as South Carolina's Shane Beamer, Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman, Boise State's Spencer Danielson, SMU's Rhett Lashlee, Arizona State's Kenny Dillingham, Army's Jeff Monken, and Texas's Steve Sarkisian.

What is the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award?

The Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award is handed out in January each year to a head coach in college football for what he did in during the season for his athletes and the fans by demonstrating grit, integrity, and a winning approach both on and off the field.

The winner will be announced live in Houston on Wednesday, January 22nd after the National Champion is determined in the National Championship.