Vision Quest – Cignetti Seeks IU Football Recruiting Edge
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Success starts with a vision, a goal, a dream.
That’s how Curt Cignetti built winning football programs in his previous head coaching stops at James Madison, Elon, and Indiana University-Pennsylvania, and how he plans to build another at Indiana.
“The vision is really important here,” he says, “because everybody has it, too.
“You always want to have an edge on the competition, or at least have what they have.”
Finding that edge is crucial in so many areas, especially in recruiting, both in signing quality high school players as well as difference-making college transfers.
“The evaluation process being timely, getting guys identified and evaluated in real time, is critical,” Cignetti says. “I think we’re real strong there.”
As far as recruiting strategy, the Hoosiers target the state of Indiana first, then nearby states, and then branch out from there.
“I don’t care if you’re the head coach at Indiana, Texas, or Idaho,” Cignetti says, “you have to do a great job in your state. We want to dominate our state as best we can.”
It starts with relationship building with high school coaches and players. Since his late November hiring, Cignetti has pushed to get the word out about his program.
“I made every effort to get into key schools in January, meet people and talk to prospects,” Cignetti says.
Besides in-state, IU hits large population centers within a five-hour radius such as Cincinnati, Chicago, St. Louis, Louisville, Nashville, Detroit, and Dayton.
“There are good players scattered throughout the Midwest, in southwest Michigan and more,” Cignetti says. He prefers players who grew up watching Big Ten football.
“Those guys are more apt to stay in the program four or five years than people who don’t have that bond with the Big Ten.”
While Cignetti typically uses the transfer portal for more long-distance players, he’ll take a good transfer from anywhere. Overall, including players from former coach Tom Allen’s team, IU has 52 transfer players on its roster.
That includes 10 from James Madison and a couple from teams the Dukes played against, such as Old Dominion defensive backs Terry Jones Jr. and Shawn Asbury II, and Troy linebacker Jayden McDonald.
“Troy played great defense,” Cignetti says. “They were a hard-nosed team like we were at James Madison. I always respected the way they played defense. McDonald was a good player for them, highly productive.
“The two Old Dominion players were position-and-need guys. We were really thin in (the secondary). They both played well, had a lot of tackles, good production, all-conference-type players. We thought they could help us.
“We probably still need a piece or two after spring ball.”
Cignetti hired a new recruiting staff led by Matt Wilson, assistant athletic director for player personnel. He works closely with Mike Ferrara, director of player personnel, and John Srofe, director of scouting.
“I was looking for good structure, capable people,” Cignetti says. “I put together an organization that was strong in evaluation and marketing. I think we’re extremely strong in evaluation.
“I’m impressed with Matt. I’ve known him a long time. We hired two really good people underneath him in Mike and John. They’re two veteran guys. I like the way that’s going.”
Cignetti says a strong recruiting structure is critical “in terms of expediting the evaluation and identification, both within the state, within a four-hour radius, and those out-of-pocket areas.”
IU could add players after spring practice via the transfer portal.
“I think offensively on paper we look like we're in pretty good shape,” Cignetti says. “Defensively, maybe we’ll need depth in some areas. We’ll evaluate the back end to see if we have what we need going into the fall.”
Cignetti added that without NCAA rule changes, there could be a May transfer wave similar to what happened in December.
“I don’t think it will be as big, but you’ll have people coming and going. That’s just football right now.”
As far as next season’s team, Cignetti is installing a versatile offense directed by offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Mike Shanahan and quarterbacks coach/co-offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri. Both worked with Cignetti at James Madison.
At James Madison, Shanahan was the offensive coordinator as well as receivers coach. Last year, the Dukes ranked No. 29 in the country in total offense, averaging 430.2 yards per game. In 2022, they averaged 37.0 points.
Sunseri coached three quarterbacks at James Madison -- Cole Johnson, Todd Centeio, and Jordan McCloud. All three earned conference player of the year honors.
“I don’t see Tino’s role changing,” Cignetti says. “He’s coaching the quarterbacks. I added that (co-offensive coordinator) title. He’s earned that title.
“It’s a group effort in meetings. I run the offensive staff meetings, steer the direction, but I let those guys coach the players. I sort of coach the coaches.
“We’ve got a core offense. We’ll put in that core offense. As we evaluate the team and its strengths, we’ll branch off, but that really doesn’t take place until maybe halfway through fall camp. We have to figure out who’s who and who can do what first.”
Cignetti tapped into IU’s football heritage by hiring Pat Kuntz as defensive tackles coach. The former Hoosier grad assistant had spent the previous three seasons working with Cignetti at James Madison. The Indianapolis native played at Notre Dame.
“He’s a fireball,” Cignetti says. “He loves football. He loves coaching. He loves being on the field. He gets after it in recruiting. He’s a high-energy guy. Has probably been that way his whole life. That’s the way he’s wired.
“He’s come a long way as a coach in the three years he’s been with me. He’s been a tremendous asset.”