BLOOMINGTON — Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti was just as proactive about keeping his coaching staff intact as he was retaining his key players.
The Hoosiers’ nine returning on-field coaches all received new deals with raises in December. The ink wasn’t even dry on those contracts when defensive coordinator Bryant Haines received an additional pay bump.
During a virtual news conference for National Signing Day, Cignetti told reporters that the blue bloods “were knocking at the door” for Haines.
“I really appreciate President Whitten and Scott Dolson for the tremendous support that they’ve provided since I’ve become the head coach that enables us to keep a key person like Bryant Haines,” Cignetti said.
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The university has yet to provide details of Haines’ latest contract, but the original extension he signed was a three-year deal that would have paid him $1.8 million a year.
Penn State reportedly expressed interest in Haines to fill the defensive coordinator vacancy it had after IU’s former coach Tom Allen left the school after one season. Notre Dame and Ohio State ended up with openings as well.
Cignetti said it was a no-brainer that Haines would generate interest for those high-profile openings given the success he’s had in recent years.
“When you’re successful and you win and you’re a coordinator and your side of the ball excels — I think we’re No. 1 in the country against the run, No. 2 in total defense, we’re No. 1 in Big Ten in other categories — he’s done a great job for me,” Cignetti said. “I think he just completed his third year as coordinator. He’s been with me 11 or 12 years — people are going to come after him.”
The one-time IU grad assistant had immediate success when he took over play-calling duties for James Madison in 2022. The Dukes had the No. 5 ranked defense in the country (290.2 yards allowed per game) and No. 21 scoring defense (20.5 points allowed).
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Haines’ defenses have never ranked outside the top 30 in either category.
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The one new face on IU’s staff for 2025 is former Atlanta Falcons pass-game coordinator Chandler Whitmer. He was hired as the Hoosiers‘ new quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator Dec. 20.
He inherits the same titles that Tino Sunseri had last season. Sunseri, who remained with IU through the College Football Playoff, accepted a job to be UCLA’s offensive coordinator.
National Signing Day was Cignetti’s first chance to talk about the hire.
“Was very impressed with Chandler in our conversations — came highly recommended, a lot of knowledge, been around a lot of great people, excellent teacher,” Cignetti said. “Looking forward to having him join our offense.”
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Whitmer broke into coaching as a grad assistant with brief stints at Ohio State (2019) and Clemson (2020) before landing a job as a offensive quality control assistant with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021.
He’s worked with an impressive list of quarterbacks including Justin Fields, Trevor Lawrence, Justin Herbert and Michael Penix Jr.
Whitmer will be tasked with developing a quarterback room that’s only returning one scholarship player (Alberto Mendoza) from last season. Last year’s starter Kurtis Rourke exhausted his eligibility and Tayven Jackson (UCF) transferred.
Former Center Grove standout quarterback Tyler Cherry will be a student coach in 2025 as he works his way back from a knee injury he suffered at practice leading up to IU’s first-round game against Notre Dame.
The Hoosiers signed Fernado Mendoza, Alberto’s older brother, the No. 3 rated quarterback in the transfer portal and No. 20 overall ranked transfer.
“We’re looking to bring in a guy to develop the quarterback, mainly,” Cignetti said of Whitmer. “We’ve had great success with quarterbacks. Four straight players of the year offensively. And then Kurtis was No. 1 in the country in quarterback rating, but made second-team all-conference. He had a great year.”
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IU football coach Curt Cignetti explains retaining Bryant Haines, adding Chandler Whitmer
