Report: Former WVU QB Curt Cignetti to Leave JMU for Indiana Job

A major coaching target around the college football landscape is now reportedly off the market. According to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Indiana is finalizing a deal to make JMU head coach Curt Cignetti its next head coach.

Cignetti, 62, was recently named the Sun Belt Coach of the Year after guiding the Dukes to an 11-1 regular season, had generated interest in multiple Power Five coaching searches.

In five seasons at JMU, making the jump from the FCS to the FBS before the 2022 season, the Dukes have gone 52-9 — including 19-4 at the FBS level. Despite the success, due to NCAA rules, the Dukes were not eligible for their conference title or postseason play in the last two seasons. But there will be a bowl appearance this season.

The Pittsburgh native attended West Virginia in the late 1970s and early 80s, playing quarterback while his father Frank Cignetti Sr. was the head coach. He started his coaching career at Pitt in the 1983 season after his playing career came to an end.

West Virginia Football Honors Late Former Coach Frank Cignetti Sr. During Game

Cignetti spent the majority of the 1990s as the quarterbacks and tight ends coach at Pitt before going on to serve as an assistant at North Carolina State and Alabama in the 2000s.

He was hired as the head coach at Indiana (Pa.) in 2011, which is where both his father Frank Sr. and brother Frank Jr. — yes, that Frank Jr. — spent time during their careers, and he spent two seasons at Elon before taking the JMU job in 2019.

Indiana fired previous head coach Tom Allen earlier this month after a 3-9 season, enacting a $15.5 million buyout. Allen finished his tenure at Indiana with a 33-49 (18-43 Big Ten) record over eight seasons.

Most of this story initially appeared on our partner site Pittsburgh Sports Now.