Every coach has a story behind his career, a place where it all started, the head coaches who were mentors for a long time. For Curt Cignetti, his past is often forgotten about as the second-year Indiana coach has more recently found a lot of success.
What some don't realize is that Cignetti has had success before Indiana at James Madison and before that at Elon and IUP. However, before becoming a head coach, like most, he started as a graduate assistant at Pitt under Foge Fazio. His career also led him to Davidson, Temple, and Rice. In 2000, Cignetti joined Chuck Amato's staff at NC State, working with the quarterbacks and tight ends. He was even responsible for coaching Philip Rivers to ACC Player of the Year honors.
In 2007, Cignetti made the move to Alabama, where he would become one of the first coaching staff under Nick Saban. Under Saban, Cignetti was the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator. So, Cignetti certainly learned from the best at Alabama.
Now, Cignetti will face his former school, Alabama, in the Rose Bowl in what will be Indiana's first game of the College Football Playoff. Heading into this matchup, Cignetti is making sure to remember all that Saban did for him at Alabama.
"[He's a] real important part of my journey," Cignetti said Monday. "[I] learned a lot from Coach Saban in terms of organization and standards. I wouldn't be where I am today without my time under Nick."
It is clear Curt Cignetti's coaching style is built like Nick Saban's
Cignetti is famous for his one-liners during interviews, but also for showing practically no emotion on the sideline, even after a huge win. Right after Indiana won the Big Ten Championship, it looked as though Cignetti was ready to move on to the next game.
Saban was the same way. He certainly didn't take any BS from players, the media, or other teams. He knew how to put his head down and go win games, and it is clear that Cignetti had adopted that same sense of self.