Indiana Defensive Coordinator Bryant Haines Ranked As Top Defensive Coordinator In The Country

Indiana Hoosiers defensive coordinator Bryant Haines has been named one of the top defensive coordinator's in the country ahead of the 2025 season by Andy Staples of On3 Sports

According to On3's Andy Staples, Haines is the sixth-best defensive coordinator in the nation behind Penn State's Jim Knowles, Iowa's Phil Parker, Georgia's Glenn Schumann, Clemson's Tom Allen and Texas' Pete Kwiatkowski.

His ranking makes him the third highest in the Big Ten Conference and pairs him with offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan who was ranked fourth by Staples and On3 Sports.

Haines joined IU head coach Curt Cignetti’s staff at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2014, he coached there for two seasons before heading to UC-Davis as linebackers coach.

Haines then joined Cignetti in 2017 at Elon. He also coach under Cignetti at James Madison as defensive coordinator and linebacker coach from 2019-2013. He joined the Indiana staff with Mike Shanahan and company to lead the Hoosiers to the CFB Playoffs in 2024.

Haines who was a Broyles Award Finalist in 2024, signed a new contract with Indiana this off-season and his starting salary is $2 million a year through the 2027 season, according to The Herald-Times

Here's what head coach and his longtime friend Curt Cignetti said about his defensive coordinator Bryant Haines at Big Ten Media this past week.

“When you're successful and you win and you're a coordinator and your side of the ball excels — I think we were number one in the country against the run, number two in total defense, we're number one in Big Ten in other categories — he's done a great job for me,”Cignetti said.“He just completed his third year as coordinator. He's been with me 11 or 12 years — people are going to come after him, you've got to be able to keep key people."

Bryant Haines is the third highest paid assistant coach in the Big Ten behind, Wink Martindale at Michigan and Jim Knowles at Penn State.

Indiana's defense was the second-best total defense in the nation in yards only giving up 256.3 yards per game. Indiana’s run defense was the best in the country as the Hoosiers gave up 80.2 yards per contest and only 5.2 rushing first downs per game. The pass defense was also a threat as Indiana only gave up 176.1 per game through the air and were also top ten in turnover rate.

Haines defense will be led by defensive end Mikail Kamara, linebacker Aiden Fisher, cornerback D’Angelo Ponds and safety Amare Ferrell in 2025.

Haines and the Hoosiers will look to continue their defensive dominance throughout the 2025 season as Indiana looks to return to the College Football Playoff. Indiana will begin its regular season on Saturday, August 30th, against Old Dominion Monarchs