Curt Cignetti, the head coach who led Indiana University to itS first national championship in football, has become a viral sensation thanks to a playful Easter egg from Google. The story began after Indiana’s victory in the 2025 College Football Playoff championship game.
From Humble Beginnings to National champions
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The anecdote originates from a post-game interview following a victory where, when asked about his success, Cignetti simply stated, “I win,” pausing before adding, “Google me.”
Now, a search for “Curt Cignetti” on Google prominently displays the phrase “Yup, he won.” Google confirmed to The New York Times that the phrase will remain at the top of his search results for several weeks. NY Times
A Coaching Career Built on Success
Cignetti’s path to championship glory has been marked by consistent success at multiple levels of college football.
Early Coaching Years
His coaching career began at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) in 2011, where he went 53-17 over six seasons, leading the Crimson Hawks to three NCAA Division II playoff appearances. His father, Frank Cignetti, had a distinguished career at IUP as both a player and coach for 20 seasons.
Ascension Through the Ranks
Cignetti continued his ascent with accomplished stints at Elon (2017-2018, 14-9 record, two FCS playoff appearances) and James Madison University (2019-2023, 52-9 record, three FCS playoff appearances, and a 19-4 record in JMU’s first two seasons at the FBS level). James Madison University Football
Indiana and the National Championship
In 2024, Cignetti took the helm at Indiana, inheriting a program that had struggled in recent years, with only nine wins in the previous three seasons. He quickly turned the program around, leading the Hoosiers to an 11-2 record and a College football Playoff appearance. This momentum culminated in the historic 2025 season and the national championship victory over Miami, earning him his second consecutive Associated Press Coach of the Year award.
Key Takeaways
- Curt Cignetti led Indiana to its first national championship in football.
- Google added a playful Easter egg to his search results page: “Yup, he won.”
- Cignetti has a proven track record of success at multiple levels of college football.
Yup, he wins.