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A new name to think about

HUSKERINWYO

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I know there are a lot of threads and talk about possible coaches for DONU, however one more name that nobody is thinking about from FCS level is Curt Cignetti. The following is copied from Wikipedia but it shows he is a builder and a winner with ties to the Nick Saban coaching school. And can recruit.

NC StateEdit

Cignetti joined Chuck Amato's new staff at NC State in 2000. The 2002 team set a school record with 11 wins. In 2003, Cignetti coached Quarterback Philip Rivers, the ACC Player of the Year. In seven seasons, the Wolfpack participated in five bowls, winning four. In 2006, Cignetti recruited future Super Bowl champion quarterback Russell Wilson to the Wolfpack before joining Nick Saban's new staff at Alabama.

AlabamaEdit

Cignetti was an original member of Saban's Alabama coaching staff in 2007, serving as wide receiver coach/recruiting coordinator. The 2008 team finished the regular season 12–0 and the 2009 team finished 14–0 and won the national championship. The Tide won 29 regular season games in a row between 2008 and 2010. Cignetti coached wide receiver Julio Jonesand recruited Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram IIand linebacker Dont'a Hightower, all members of the 2008 recruiting class, which featured six first-round NFL Draft choices.


IUPEdit

IUP had a 4–10 conference record prior to Cignetti's arrival in 2011. In his first year as head coach, the team won 6 of its last 7 games, by an average of 28 points per game, to finish 7–3. In 2012, The Crimson Hawks won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and advanced to the NCAA Regional Finals, finishing 12–2. Cignetti’s 2013 team finished 9–2 and he led IUP to the NCAA playoffs in both 2015 and 2016. His 2016 team finished 10–2. Cignetti finished 53–17 at IUP with three NCAA playoff appearances and two conference championships. On December 31, 2016, he accepted the head coaching position at Elon University.

ElonEdit

The Elon team had had a 4–20 conference record and suffered through six straight losing seasons prior to Cignetti's arrival, but in his first season the squad won eight games in a row after an opening season loss to MAC Champion Toledo. The Phoenix were ranked as high as 6th nationally, played James Madison for the conference championship and were selected for the NCAA Playoffs for the first time since 2009. Cignetti was named CAA coach of the year and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year. In 2018, Cignetti led the Phoenix to a 27–24 win over James Madison, ending JMU's 22-game CAA Football winning streak and then FCS-best 19-game home winning streak. The win marked Elon's first over a top-five FCS opponent.[2] The Phoenix earned back to back NCAA playoff appearances for the first time in program history.


James MadisonEdit

Curt Cignetti was named Head Football Coach at James Madison on December 14, 2018. In his first season, Cignetti led the Dukes to a seven game improvement over 2018, finishing 14–2 and an appearance in the 2020 National Championship. 2021 saw the Dukes play two seasons, spring and fall whle claiming two Conference Championships and appearing in two National Semifinal contests. JMU went 19-3 in '21 and announced a move to the Sun Belt Conference effective Fall '22.

 
I know there are a lot of threads and talk about possible coaches for DONU, however one more name that nobody is thinking about from FCS level is Curt Cignetti. The following is copied from Wikipedia but it shows he is a builder and a winner with ties to the Nick Saban coaching school. And can recruit.

NC StateEdit

Cignetti joined Chuck Amato's new staff at NC State in 2000. The 2002 team set a school record with 11 wins. In 2003, Cignetti coached Quarterback Philip Rivers, the ACC Player of the Year. In seven seasons, the Wolfpack participated in five bowls, winning four. In 2006, Cignetti recruited future Super Bowl champion quarterback Russell Wilson to the Wolfpack before joining Nick Saban's new staff at Alabama.

AlabamaEdit

Cignetti was an original member of Saban's Alabama coaching staff in 2007, serving as wide receiver coach/recruiting coordinator. The 2008 team finished the regular season 12–0 and the 2009 team finished 14–0 and won the national championship. The Tide won 29 regular season games in a row between 2008 and 2010. Cignetti coached wide receiver Julio Jonesand recruited Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram IIand linebacker Dont'a Hightower, all members of the 2008 recruiting class, which featured six first-round NFL Draft choices.


IUPEdit

IUP had a 4–10 conference record prior to Cignetti's arrival in 2011. In his first year as head coach, the team won 6 of its last 7 games, by an average of 28 points per game, to finish 7–3. In 2012, The Crimson Hawks won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and advanced to the NCAA Regional Finals, finishing 12–2. Cignetti’s 2013 team finished 9–2 and he led IUP to the NCAA playoffs in both 2015 and 2016. His 2016 team finished 10–2. Cignetti finished 53–17 at IUP with three NCAA playoff appearances and two conference championships. On December 31, 2016, he accepted the head coaching position at Elon University.

ElonEdit

The Elon team had had a 4–20 conference record and suffered through six straight losing seasons prior to Cignetti's arrival, but in his first season the squad won eight games in a row after an opening season loss to MAC Champion Toledo. The Phoenix were ranked as high as 6th nationally, played James Madison for the conference championship and were selected for the NCAA Playoffs for the first time since 2009. Cignetti was named CAA coach of the year and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year. In 2018, Cignetti led the Phoenix to a 27–24 win over James Madison, ending JMU's 22-game CAA Football winning streak and then FCS-best 19-game home winning streak. The win marked Elon's first over a top-five FCS opponent.[2] The Phoenix earned back to back NCAA playoff appearances for the first time in program history.


James MadisonEdit

Curt Cignetti was named Head Football Coach at James Madison on December 14, 2018. In his first season, Cignetti led the Dukes to a seven game improvement over 2018, finishing 14–2 and an appearance in the 2020 National Championship. 2021 saw the Dukes play two seasons, spring and fall whle claiming two Conference Championships and appearing in two National Semifinal contests. JMU went 19-3 in '21 and announced a move to the Sun Belt Conference effective Fall '22.

Prepare to get fried....extra crispy. :Rolf:
 



I know there are a lot of threads and talk about possible coaches for DONU, however one more name that nobody is thinking about from FCS level is Curt Cignetti. The following is copied from Wikipedia but it shows he is a builder and a winner with ties to the Nick Saban coaching school. And can recruit.

NC StateEdit

Cignetti joined Chuck Amato's new staff at NC State in 2000. The 2002 team set a school record with 11 wins. In 2003, Cignetti coached Quarterback Philip Rivers, the ACC Player of the Year. In seven seasons, the Wolfpack participated in five bowls, winning four. In 2006, Cignetti recruited future Super Bowl champion quarterback Russell Wilson to the Wolfpack before joining Nick Saban's new staff at Alabama.

AlabamaEdit

Cignetti was an original member of Saban's Alabama coaching staff in 2007, serving as wide receiver coach/recruiting coordinator. The 2008 team finished the regular season 12–0 and the 2009 team finished 14–0 and won the national championship. The Tide won 29 regular season games in a row between 2008 and 2010. Cignetti coached wide receiver Julio Jonesand recruited Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram IIand linebacker Dont'a Hightower, all members of the 2008 recruiting class, which featured six first-round NFL Draft choices.


IUPEdit

IUP had a 4–10 conference record prior to Cignetti's arrival in 2011. In his first year as head coach, the team won 6 of its last 7 games, by an average of 28 points per game, to finish 7–3. In 2012, The Crimson Hawks won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and advanced to the NCAA Regional Finals, finishing 12–2. Cignetti’s 2013 team finished 9–2 and he led IUP to the NCAA playoffs in both 2015 and 2016. His 2016 team finished 10–2. Cignetti finished 53–17 at IUP with three NCAA playoff appearances and two conference championships. On December 31, 2016, he accepted the head coaching position at Elon University.

ElonEdit

The Elon team had had a 4–20 conference record and suffered through six straight losing seasons prior to Cignetti's arrival, but in his first season the squad won eight games in a row after an opening season loss to MAC Champion Toledo. The Phoenix were ranked as high as 6th nationally, played James Madison for the conference championship and were selected for the NCAA Playoffs for the first time since 2009. Cignetti was named CAA coach of the year and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year. In 2018, Cignetti led the Phoenix to a 27–24 win over James Madison, ending JMU's 22-game CAA Football winning streak and then FCS-best 19-game home winning streak. The win marked Elon's first over a top-five FCS opponent.[2] The Phoenix earned back to back NCAA playoff appearances for the first time in program history.


James MadisonEdit

Curt Cignetti was named Head Football Coach at James Madison on December 14, 2018. In his first season, Cignetti led the Dukes to a seven game improvement over 2018, finishing 14–2 and an appearance in the 2020 National Championship. 2021 saw the Dukes play two seasons, spring and fall whle claiming two Conference Championships and appearing in two National Semifinal contests. JMU went 19-3 in '21 and announced a move to the Sun Belt Conference effective Fall '22.

Curt Cignetti will be a guy hitting the radar of ADs in the future - if not soon - and he'll get his shot to take a step.
 



Some here will say NO because he has no P5 experience. Guy looks like he can get it done as he has everywhere he has been
 
Just find someone as good as the Mike Locksley level. He has really given some life to a moribund program at Maryland.
 
Not sure at this way too early point any name should be off the list. Maybe in November when it actually matters you can exclude him.
 




Some here will say NO because he has no P5 experience. Guy looks like he can get it done as he has everywhere he has been
Some definitely will say that. I think having that as your line will leave us with a mediocre coach. A lot of the P5 guys you see on the market are available for a reason. I think there is something to be said about snagging a guy before he becomes "the guy". There is certainly risk in it, but then again, there is risk with all these guys.

Not putting my stamp of approval on Cignetti. Just saying I wouldn't not interview someone for not having P5 head coaching experience.
 

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