Cignetti ranked first among Big Ten coaches by USA TODAY
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 7, 2026, 1:49 PM
Last updated Jul 7, 2026
Curt Cignetti has ascended to the top of USA TODAY's Big Ten head coach rankings, surpassing Dan Lanning and Ryan Day. This rise follows Cignetti's success leading the Indiana Hoosiers to a national championship victory after defeating the Oregon Ducks in a playoff semifinal. Cignetti's turnaround of the Hoosiers, who previously struggled in conference play, has been notable since his hiring. Lanning, while impressive with a strong overall record, remains unranked among the top two coaches due to not securing a national title.
- •Cignetti leads the Big Ten coach rankings as of July 7, 2026.
- •Indiana Hoosiers won the national championship under Cignetti's leadership.
- •Lanning's Ducks reached the semifinals but did not secure a title.
- •Cignetti's coaching success marks a turnaround for the Hoosiers' program.
- 1:49 PMYahoo Sports — Cignetti passes Lanning in USA TODAY's Big Ten head coach ranking
"Long having been considered to be neck-and-neck with Ohio State's Ryan Day as the top coach in the Big Ten, both have been passed by a new challenger.
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