The Indiana Hoosiers hired Curt Cignetti away from the James Madison Dukes this offseason, and they’ve already reaped the rewards. The Hoosiers roared out to 10-0 for the first time in school history and are challenging for a spot in the College Football Playoff. But Cignetti didn’t do it alone. Here’s a look at the coaching staff he assembled around him.
Indiana Hoosiers Coaching Staff
Head Coach, Curt Cignetti
Cignetti brings 13 years of head coaching experience to Indiana, highlighted by a dominant 52-9 run with the James Madison Dukes. Named the 2023 Sun Belt Coach of the Year, he guided the program to an impressive 11-1 record and a bowl game in just their second season in the FBS.
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Cignetti’s résumé also includes Power Five experience as an assistant at Alabama, NC State, and Pittsburgh. He’s revitalized a struggling Hoosiers team coming off the seven-year Tom Allen era, resulting in a new eight-year, $72 million contract after just 10 games.
- 1983-84: Pittsburgh (GA)
- 1985: Davidson (QBs/WRs)
- 1986-88: Rice (QB)
- 1989-1992: Temple (QB)
- 1993-99: Pittsburgh (QB/TE)
- 2000-06: NC State (QB/TE/RC)
- 2007-10: Alabama (WR/RC)
- 2011-16: IUP (HC)
- 2017-18: Elon (HC)
- 2019-23: James Madison (HC)
- 2024-present: Indiana (HC)
Defensive Coordinator/LBs Coach, Bryant Haines
Bryant Haines has quickly made a name for himself as one of college football’s top defensive minds. Since following Cignetti from James Madison to Indiana, he’s turned the Hoosiers’ defense into a powerhouse, ranking in the top 10 in scoring defense (13.8 ppg) and total defense (255.5 ypg) heading into Week 12.
Haines was instrumental in JMU’s seamless transition to the FBS. His 2022 unit allowed just 20.9 points and 290.2 yards per game, ranking in the top 10 nationally in multiple defensive categories.
- 2009: Manchester College (DL)
- 2010-11: Adrian College (DL/Strength and Conditioning Coordinator)
- 2012: Indiana (GA
- 2013: Ohio State (GA)
- 2014-15: IUP (DL/Strength and Conditioning)
- 2016: UC Davis (LBs)
- 2017-18: Elon (LBs)
- 2019-23: James Madison (DC/LBs)
- 2024-present: Indiana (DC/LBs)
Offensive Coordinator/WRs Coach, Mike Shanahan
Mike Shanahan — no, not the legendary 72-year-old retired NFL coach — has spent just under a decade with Cignetti, beginning with a one-year stint as the WRs coach at DII IUP. With Shanahan calling the plays, the Dukes averaged at least 35 points per game across three seasons, ranking 29th in the FBS in total offense in 2023 with 430.3 yards per game.
- 2014: Pittsburgh (Volunteer assistant)
- 2015: Pittsburgh (GA)
- 2016: IUP (WR)
- 2017-2018: Elon (WR)
- 2019-23: James Madison (OC/WR/RC)
- 2024-present: Indiana (OC/WR)
Co-Offensive Coordiantor/QBs Coach, Tino Sunseri
Tino Sunseri joined Cignetti’s staff at James Madison in 2021, overseeing a prolific passing attack that ranked top-three in the Sun Belt for both scoring and passing in the last two seasons.
Under Sunseri’s guidance, QBs thrive — Cole Johnson broke school records and earned CAA Offensive Player of the Year in 2021, while Todd Centeio and Jordan McCloud won Sun Belt Player of the Year honors in 2022 and 2023. Previously, Sunseri coached QBs at Alabama, working with standouts like Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones.
Special Teams Coordinator/TEs Coach, Grant Cain
Before James Madison’s jump to the FBS in 2022, Grant Cain was promoted to assistant head coach by Cignetti, reflecting his status in his eyes.
Cain has served as the TEs coach and special teams coordinator since joining Cignetti’s staff in 2019. His efforts paid off in 2023, when Zach Horton earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors. Cain’s coaching résumé also includes assistant roles at Mercer and Coastal Carolina.
Safeties/DBs Coach, Ola Adams
After a season as a Penn State Nittany Lions defensive analyst and analytics coordinator, Ola Adams left for Bloomington.
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He has NFL experience, having worked with the Denver Broncos as an assistant secondary coach. Additionally, Adams made the AFCA’s prestigious 35 Under 35 list for his success as Villanova’s DC over three seasons.
DTs Coach, Pat Kuntz
Before joining James Madison in 2022, Bryan Kuntz built his coaching foundation at VMI, Southern Illinois, and his alma mater, Notre Dame. His impact at JMU was immediate, leading the Dukes’ defensive line to rank first in the FBS for run defense in 2023 and atop the Sun Belt both seasons.
A former nose guard for the Fighting Irish, Kuntz began his career at Roncalli High School in Indianapolis. However, this isn’t his first stop in Indiana, as he was a GA under Allen from 2016 to 2018.
RBs Coach, John Miller
John Miller wasn’t just another Cignetti disciple who followed him to James Madison — he graduated from the school in 2018. Under Miller’s guidance, the Dukes ranked fourth in the Sun Belt in rushing in both 2021 and 2022.
Percy Agyei-Obese thrived with Miller’s tutelage, earning third-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2022 and finishing his career second in school history in rushing TDs and third in rushing yards. Prior to landing on Cignetti’s Dukes staff, Miller spent two seasons at Texas as an offensive quality control coach, working primarily with wide receivers.
CBs Coach, Rod Ojong
Rod Ojong was an outside hire of Cignetti in his newest head coaching position. Ojong coached DBs at Charlotte last season and at Buffalo for the two years prior. His growing list of former employers also includes Furman and Austin Peay, where he gained experience at the FCS level.
DEs Coach, Buddha Williams
Buddha Williams’ coaching career is on the rise, and Indiana’s success at the highest level will only propel him further. Jay Norvell hired him at Colorado State, where Williams unleashed Mohamed Kamara. The 2023 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year generated 33.0 of his 45.5 career tackles for loss with Williams coaching him up.
Before that, Williams coached at North Dakota State, helping the Bison produce three FCS national championships, a 66-5 record, and three All-American defensive linemen.
Run Game Coordinator/OL Coach, Bob Bostad
Bob Bostad is the only holdover from the Tom Allen era. He first joined the Hoosiers last year and holds the same position in 2024.
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Bostad owns 26 years of coaching experience, including two significant stints with the Wisconsin Badgers (2006-11 and 2017-22), where he coached 11 first-team All-Americans.
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