IU football is making a significant investment in its assistant coaches.
Via a public records request, The Daily Hoosier obtained copies of the memorandums of understandings between Curt Cignetti’s assistant coaches and IU outlining their new deals signed earlier this month following Indiana’s 11-1 season.
Last month when the terms of Cignetti’s new deal were released, we learned the Hoosiers had committed $11 million per year for the football program’s on-field staff and support staff, to be allocated at Cignetti’s discretion. Per USA Today, Ohio State ($11.43 million) is the only known school whose assistant salary pool is higher than IU’s new figure.
Here’s what the latest records request reveals about how most of that massive pool will be allocated:
- Defensive coordinator Bryant Haines: $1.8 million in 2025, $1.9 million in 2026, $2 million in 2027, plus $75,000 annual retention bonus, plus $150,000 if the team finishes in the top third of the Big Ten (one of the top 6 teams) in fewest points allowed on average per game or fewest yards allowed on average per game
- Offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan: $1.15 million in 2025, $1.2 million in 2026, $1.25 million in 2027, plus $50,000 annual retention bonus.
- Offensive line coach Bob Bostad: $900,000 per year
- Cornerbacks coach Rod Ojong: $650,000
- Strength coach Derek Owings: $635,000
- Defensive tackles coach Pat Kuntz: $625,000
- Special teams/tight ends coach Grant Cain: $575,000
- Safeties coach Ola Adams: $550,000
- Defensive ends Buddha Williams: $550,000
- Running backs coach John Miller: $425,000
Haines was making $1.1 million under the terms of his original deal with IU. Shanahan was getting $800,000. They both signed three year deals. All of the coaches have received significant bumps while signing either two or three year deals.
Haines and Shanahan are earning a base salary of $450,000 per year, with the balance described as “outside marketing and promotional income.” The other coaches are getting a base salary of $400,000 per year.
All of the coaches are also entitled to a bonus schedule based on their base salary and the number of games the team wins, along with appearances in marquee events like the Big Ten Championship Game and the College Football Playoff.
The further the team goes, the more each coach will earn. Here’s the bonus schedule:
- A. If the Team appears in a Bowl Game, the Employee, if still employed at the time of the appearance, will receive 10% of their Base Salary.
- B. If the Team wins a total of nine (9) games during the course of a single season, the Employee, if still employed at the time of the ninth win, will receive 12% of their Base Salary.
- C. If the Team wins a total of ten (10) games during the course of a single season, the Employee, if still employed at the time of the tenth win, will receive 15% of their Base Salary.
- D. If the Team wins a total of eleven (11) games during the course of a single season, the Employee, if still employed at the time of the eleventh win, will receive 20% of their Base Salary.
- E. For purposes of Sections 5.01. B., C., and D. above, all regular season, Big Ten Championship, and bowl games shall be included in the calculation of total wins during the course of a single football season.
- F. If the Team appears in the Big Ten Championship Game, the Employee, if still employed at the time of the championship game, will receive 20% of their Base Salary.
- G. If the Team wins the Big Ten Championship Game, the Employee, if still employed at the time of the championship game, will receive 25% of their Base Salary.
- H. If the Team appears in the CFP, the employee, if still employed at the time of the game, will receive 30% of their Base Salary.
- I. If the Team advances to the second round of CFP, the employee, if still employed at the time of the game, will receive 35% of their Base Salary.
- J. If the Team advances to the third round of CFP, the employee, if still employed at the time of the game, will receive 40% of their Base Salary.
- K. If the Team makes an appearance in the CFP National Championship game, the employee, if still employed at the time of the game, will receive 45% of their Base Salary.
- L. If the Team wins the CFP National Championship game, the employee, if still employed at the time of the game, will receive 50% of their Base Salary.
Each of the agreements also include buyouts due to the coaches if they are terminated, buyouts due to IU if the coach leaves before the end of the term, and other customary terms and conditions.
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