Former Florida and Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer knows a thing or two about watching coaching staffs take on new shapes. Meyer, who won two national championships at Florida and one at Ohio State, was often an eyewitness as assistant coaches left for bigger opportunities.
While watching the Indiana Hoosiers, led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, defeat the Miami Hurricanes 27-21 on Monday night to win the College Football Playoff National Championship, Meyer noted that success often leads to coaches getting “poached” by other programs.
Urban Meyer Sends Out Warning to HC Curt Cignetti
Meyer, who, along with Rob Stone and former Alabama Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram II, is part of “The Triple Option” podcast, had a word of warning for Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti.
“And they want your coaching staff, too,” Meyer said. “I can’t believe those two coordinators, within a year, they’ll be head coaches. They should be, too.” Meyer was referring to Indiana offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan and defensive coordinator Bryant Haines.
Meyer continued, “Look at Saban’s. Saban, our staffs, the great staffs, they just get poached.” Meyer, of course, was referencing former Alabama head coach Nick Saban, who won a few national championships during his time with the Crimson Tide. These days, Saban is a college football analyst for ESPN’s “College GameDay.”
As for Meyer, he currently works as a college football analyst for Fox Sports’ “Big Noon Saturday.”
“It stayed, the Bama staff stayed consistent for from about ’08 to about ’13, ’14, ’15, and then it started,” Ingram said. “It stayed consistent until, well, we won three out of four. We won in ’09, we won in ’11, and we won in ’12. After that, it started breaking up.”
Cignetti led one of the most remarkable seasons in college football history, guiding the Hoosiers to a perfect 16-0 record and a national championship. He accomplished the feat in just his second season as Indiana’s head coach.
According to the PFSN CFB Offense Impact Metrics, which are measured through the regular season, Indiana’s offense posted an impact score of 93.5 and earned an A grade. That ranked the Hoosiers first overall in the league this season.
Indiana is more commonly associated with its storied basketball tradition, led for years by the late head coach Bobby Knight.
Now, Cignetti hopes his coaching staff remains intact heading into the 2026 college football season, as the Hoosiers aim to repeat as College Football Playoff champions.
