BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — As his team rolls right now, there’s one face you’ll never catch flashing relief or ease — that of Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti. Even when his squad is cruising to victory, his game-face? Unyielding. Raw. Locked in.
The Indiana Hoosiers enter this week 8-0 (5-0 Big Ten) and sitting at No. 2 in both the AP and Coaches polls — a remarkable jump for a program that has long struggled in the Power Five.
They’re winning by convincing margins, dominating on both sides of the ball, and yet Cignetti’s expression doesn’t soften a bit. That matters.
Why the serious face?
It’s easy to assume a big lead = easy job. But not in this program, and especially not for Cignetti. After years of under-achievement, Cignetti has engineered a turnaround that’s historic in scope. According to recent analysis, his winning percentage at Indiana is .905 — far above the school’s all-time rate of .426.
SI
With that kind of shift, he’s made a point: no let-up, ever.
In a Monday press session, Cignetti said he was deeply impressed by his upcoming opponent’s metrics — despite Indiana’s own streak. “They’re in the top 10 in the country in turnover ratio… they have 14 interceptions, 22 sacks,” he said of Maryland Terrapins.
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He emphasized that while Indiana is winning big now, it’s the details, habits and next opponent that matter most. His face? Business as usual.
Players notice it
On the field, players feed off that attitude. Whether it’s a 56-6 drubbing of UCLA Bruins or other dominant performances, Cignetti’s mien remains unchanged — and that signals something to the team: we’re not done, not satisfied, not relaxing. The stakes stay high. The target stays on their backs.
Defensive end Mikail Kamara, challenged recently to ramp up his production after a slower start, must sense that constant intensity.
The Daily Hoosier
When your coach won’t smile, even when you’re ahead by 40, you know the message is set: keep grinding.
What it means moving forward
In the rough‐and‐tumble world of Big Ten football, momentum can swing fast. Indiana’s upcoming trip to Maryland looms (Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET), and Cignetti is treating it like a playoff game.
The Daily Hoosier
The unblinking intensity says: no complacency. No matter how big the lead.
For a program flying high, that’s exactly what its coach wants to show: “Yeah, we’re good. But we’re not done.” The “mean face” isn’t an act — it’s a standard. One they expect to live up to.
Final word
When your head coach looks like he’s playing chess while everyone else is dancing, you take notice. Curt Cignetti’s locked-in expression isn’t about anger or frustration—it’s about focus, discipline and a refusal to ease up. Even when the scoreboard says you’re winning. The message is crystal clear: lead or no lead, the job’s not done.
