NOTEBOOK: Winning Blueprint Plus Process Driven Equals Staying Ahead of Coaching Curve
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Springs come and go and Curt Cignetti stays ahead of the coaching curve, changing some things, keeping others in an approach that has delivered a 146-37 head coaching record over 15 seasons, with no signs of slowing down.
Indiana’s 16-0 national championship is firmly in his rearview mirror. Other than a February tropical vacation with his family, and an upcoming chance to drive the pace car for the Indianapolis 500, Cignetti is dialed in to next season’s football challenge.
With his third Hoosier spring practice wrapped up, much has been done and much remains with another promising season set to start Sept. 5 against North Texas at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium. Summer workouts and August camp await another promising mix of returning veterans, standout transfers, and talented freshmen.
How has Cignetti evolved as a coach during his time in Bloomington?
“I’m almost 65, so maybe I’m not moving quite as fast as I did two years ago,” he says with a smile from the Don Croftcheck Team Room.
“The blueprint is pretty much the same. You’re always trying to improve some things. Our process has not changed a lot. The faces in the program have changed with players and coaches.
“I’ll go back and watch last spring practice, say Day 12, or in 2024, scrimmage two.
“What I would say about the previous two springs, when we have our defensive guys out there, which we did for most of the spring, there are a lot more capable bodies out there than the last two springs.”
Last Thursday night featured what was the biggest spring game crowd in program history, and while the offense won 26-16 in the modified scoring system, it was not the offensive unit Cignetti expects to field next season. Veteran receiver Charlie Becker, out with a hamstring injury, and offensive linemen Bray Lynch and Carter Smith were among the sidelined starters.
“That unit was really stressed because of the guys out on the O-line and tight end, too,” Cignetti says. “Charlie tweaked his hamstring. He could have probably come back five days ago, but we didn’t see the reason. If you re-tweak the ham, it can linger … it’s the same with A.J. Harris (a defensive back transfer from Penn State).
“Everybody is excited about getting the guys back on offense so we can get some things going.”
Coming out of the spring game without any significant injuries Cignetti adds, was a big plus.
“I feel best we didn’t have any major injuries other than (defensive back) Ryland Gandy got rolled up by another defensive player. He’ll be back in August. I feel best that all these guys who have proven themselves in the past will be back in the fall.
“Because there are a lot of new faces, we’ll see what it looks like once we get everyone back and improve the team on a daily basis.”
Spring offensive line disruption could deliver fall dominance.
First, Bob Bostad rates among the nation’s best offensive line coaches with a track record of developing players for college and NFL success.
Second, veteran standouts Smith and Lynch were sidelined all spring with injuries but are expected to be at full strength for August camp.
Veteran Drew Evans played center in the spring game, but he’s learning the position and could move to guard for the season. Wisconsin transfer Joe Brunner is still adjusting to a new offense and team. Redshirt sophomores Adedamola Ajani and Austin Leibfried were spring game first-team starters, as was true freshman Sam Simpson.
Promising redshirt freshmen Baylor Wilkin and Matt Marek are also set to be in the rotation.
So many young linemen getting major work, Cignetti says, “is real valuable.”
“They got a ton of reps. We were working three groups most of the time so they were getting double reps. Simpson is a true freshman. I thought he had a nice spring. Marek, Wilkin, Leibfried, Ajani all improved. Wilkin missed the last couple of practices with a health issue, but he’ll be back, so we’re continuing our quest to develop quality depth there. Those are the names.”
IU has featured one of the nation’s best offenses under offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan, averaging 41.6 points last season and 41.3 in 2024. One of the reasons is a powerful rushing attack that totaled 35 touchdowns and averaged 212.9 yards last season and 165.1 with 37 TDs in 2024.
Prospects are once again promising with returning veterans Khobie Martin (505 yards, six touchdowns) and Lee Beebe Jr. (209 yards, one TD in just over two games), plus Boston College transfer Turbo Richard (749 yards, nine TDs last year).
Martin and Richard looked solid in the spring game. Beebe Jr. didn’t play as he continues to recover from knee surgery.
“It’s a room, that if we can keep them healthy, is a strength,” Cignetti says. “Turbo and Khobie were very consistent this spring, and we fully expect to have Beebe back in the fall.”
Defensive coordinator Bryant Haines knack for dominating defense is set to continue despite key losses such as linebacker Aiden Fisher, defensive linemen Mikail Kamara, Kellen Wyatt and Stephen Daley, and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds.
Transfers Chiddi Obiazor and Tobi Osunsanmi (both from Kansas State), plus returning veterans Tyrique Tucker and Mario Landino, all on the defensive line, combined with returning linebackers Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones, and defensive backs Jamari Sharpe and Amare Ferrell should help Haines, last season’s Broyles Award winner as the nation’s best assistant coach, extend the aggressive approach that allowed IU to hold opponents to 11.7 points last season and 15.6 points in 2024.
As far as the defensive line, Cignetti says, “We have more numbers and more depth. We’ll see how some of those young guys develop. We did hold quite a few guys (in the spring game).
“We held Isaiah Jones and Hardy. They played a little (in the spring game), but not much. It was the same with Landino and Tucker.
“We have a chance to have a good defense. We have a lot of young kids who look like they have a good future. It’s how fast can they develop and grow up. I like the new guys we brought in defensively.”
IU had a pair of receivers drafted with Omar Cooper Jr. (New York Jets) and Elijah Sarratt (Baltimore Ravens), and figures to keep its receiving success going with Tyler Morris, a transfer from Michigan who missed all of last season with a knee injury, and Nick Marsh, a Michigan State transfer. Both made plays in the spring game, as did sophomore Davion Chandler.
“Morris has made some big plays the last five to six practices,” Cignetti says. “That’s good to see. We’re going to need him. He can probably play all three (receiver) positions.
“Chandler has made plays throughout the spring, as well. I like what I saw out there.”
Tight ends figure to once again make a significant impact in the run and pass game. The Hoosiers have a lot of youth at the position, with true freshman Trevor Gibbs, and redshirt freshmen Blake Thiry, Brock Schott and Andrew Barker leading the way.
“I thought Barker really improved a lot,” Cignetti says. “I thought Blake did, too. We’re excited about Schott and Trevor Gibbs. It’s a young room. There are no veterans there. They are young guys with talent.”