Indiana football and defensive coordinator Bryant Haines — the architect behind the Cream and Crimson’s defensive prowess — agreed to a new deal with the Hoosiers that will make him one of the nation’s highest-paid assistants.
CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz first reported the news in an X post Friday evening. Haines garnered interest from other schools but instead chose to remain in Bloomington under Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti.
Haines first agreed to a new contract last December, as each Indiana assistant received a pay increase. Haines then signed another new deal last January that paid him $2 million annually.
Now, Haines will surely earn another pay raise while continuing to spearhead one of the best defenses in college football. According to The Herald Times’ Michael Niziolek, Haines’ salary is in the $3 million range.
With Cignetti’s offensive background, he’s given Haines free rein with the defense.
Haines joins Cignetti in signing a new contract, as the latter agreed to a new eight-year deal in October that will pay him a $11.6 million annual salary.
The Hoosiers finished second in total defense in 2024 and are sitting at sixth this season. They’ve allowed 10.8 points per game this season — second-best nationally behind Ohio State.
Haines and his unit will be tasked with slowing either the No. 8 University of Oklahoma or the No. 9 University of Alabama in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames and jamesdm@iu.edu) and Conor Banks (@Conorbanks06 and conbanks@iu.edu) and columnist Quinn Richards (@Quinn_richa and qmrichar@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
