Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti ran the show for the Hoosiers during the 2025 college football season, which culminated in the team winning the national championship. Equally impressive were the men behind Cignetti who handled other aspects of the team’s football campaign.
Indiana HC Curt Cignetti Hails DC Bryant Haines for Winning the Broyles Award
On Thursday, one of his top assistants, defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Bryant Haines, earned the Broyles Award as the top college football assistant coach. Cignetti reacted to Haines’ latest achievement on social media, sending a two-word message that speaks volumes about the team’s recent championship campaign.
Haines was announced the winner of the Broyles Award on Thursday in the Grand Ballroom of Oaklawn Resort in Hot Springs, Arkansas, finally earning the historic milestone after being in contention for three consecutive years. He became the second Hoosier to earn finalist honors, joining Kane Womack in 2020, and the seventh Big Ten assistant to win the award in its 30-year history.
Cignetti responded to his defensive coordinator’s achievement with a simple yet resounding two-word message that reflects his team-first approach. “GO IU! 📈 #IUFB #GOIU,” Cignetti posted.
GO IU! 📈#IUFB #GOIU https://t.co/VA9xPFAl6j
— Curt Cignetti (@CCignettiIU) February 13, 2026
The 64-year-old Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-born Cignetti is known for his collaborative and empowering approach to his staff, encouraging his coordinators and other coaches to offer suggestions to improve the team. The approach worked for the team, fueling an unbeaten run that earned them the national championship, capped by their 27-21 conquest of the Miami Hurricanes in the final.
Haines was the 10th assistant coach to claim a national title in the same season. He ran the Indiana defense, which ranked among the top 10 nationally in rushing defense (No. 2; 77.2 ypg), scoring defense (No. 2; 11.7 ppg), turnovers gained (No. 3; 30), tackles for loss per game (No. 3; 8.1), total defense (No. 4; 266.0 ypg), interceptions (No. 6; 19), and third-down conversion percentage (No. 8; .301).
The Hoosiers, who did not allow more than 24 points in a game this past season, limited nine of 16 opponents to 10 points or fewer and led the nation in points off turnovers (134). Indiana was the lone FBS school with four players who recorded at least 11.0 tackles for loss during the season.
His players combined for 46.0 sacks and 13 games in which they limited opposing teams to fewer than 100 rushing yards. His unit forced a turnover in 14 of 16 games and finished the season with at least one turnover forced in nine straight games.
Haines guided linebacker Aiden Fisher and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds to first-team All-America performances. He also helped defensive linemen Stephen Daley, Louis Moore, and Tyrique Tucker develop into All-America-caliber players. With his guidance, Indiana set a program record with seven defensive players earning All-Big Ten honors, including four first-team honorees.
Indiana may not have claimed its historic first national championship if not for Curt Cignetti, Bryant Haines, and the rest of the coaching staff, who adopted a collaborative, family-style approach that extended to every game this season. It also would not have been possible if the players had not bought into the Hoosiers’ philosophy and the mentality they employ day in and day out.
