Curt Cignetti's climb to the top of college football with Indiana...

Curt Cignetti has transformed from coaching in relative obscurity to leading a college football powerhouse. Initially working at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Cignetti was given an opportunity to shine by Jeff Bourne, the athletic director at James Madison University (JMU). Bourne had been monitoring Cignetti's success since his tenure at Division II Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he achieved a 53-17 record over six seasons. Cignetti later moved to FCS school Elon, catching Bourne's attention when Cignetti's team decisively defeated James Madison in 2018, despite JMU being favored. This performance led Bourne to believe Cignetti could excel at JMU. Currently, Cignetti is preparing to lead top-seeded Indiana against No. 10 Miami in the national championship game at Hard Rock Stadium, showcasing the significant impact of his coaching career.