Indiana football has officially won a crucial off-field battle, securing one of its most valuable coaching figures for the long term. Their Director of Football Performance, Derek Owings, was reportedly close to leaving the team to join a Big Ten rival for the upcoming season.
However, the Hoosiers quickly took action, identifying the reasons behind Owings’ potential departure and working to secure his future with the program. Their efforts proved successful, as Owings ultimately rejected USC’s aggressive pursuit and committed to Indiana with a new contract extension.
USC Misses Out as Indiana Locks in Derek Owings With Long-Term Deal
USC made a big move by parting ways with Director of Football Sports Performance Bennie Wylie after a three-year run. With that role now open, Derek Owings quickly became a top candidate for USC’s strength and conditioning position. According to 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz, Owings was one of the Trojans’ primary targets to fill the spot.
As rumors spread that Owings might leave for Southern California, Indiana moved fast to keep him. The Hoosiers offered him a new contract with a significant pay raise. Reports confirmed that Indiana secured Owings with a three-year contract extension, ensuring he would stay with the program.
Sources: Indiana Strength coach Derek Owings is staying at IU after signing a three-year deal with a big pay raise. USC made a strong push for him, but IU keeps a key piece of the program’s success.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) May 2, 2025
Interestingly, Owings had already signed a contract in December. However, the USC interest pushed them to sweeten the deal. Why is Owings so crucial to the team? One answer may lie with Indiana’s head coach, Curt Cignetti, who strongly connects with Owings.
In February, Cignetti praised Owings’ work, saying, “Derek Owings is a guy I got a lot of confidence in. Strength and conditioning has really changed through the years. It’s become a very scientific thing… have 100% confidence in him. I don’t mess with him. That’s his area. I let him go.”
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Last year, Derek earned $535,000 annually, ranking him as the 19th-highest-paid strength and conditioning coach in the country. His salary even exceeded that of coaches at major programs like Michigan, Tennessee, Auburn, UCLA, and Wisconsin.
With the new extension, his salary is expected to exceed $600,000, placing him among the top 15 highest-paid strength and conditioning coaches nationwide. However, the exact details of his new salary have not been publicly disclosed.
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