Indiana head football strength and conditioning coach Derek Owings has signed a new three-year contract to remain with the Hoosiers, receiving what has been described as a “significant pay raise,” according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. This extension follows reports that Owings had emerged as a leading candidate for USC’s strength and conditioning vacancy, per 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz. While the full terms of his new deal have not yet been disclosed, the pay increase likely places him among the top 15 highest-paid strength and conditioning coaches in college football.
Owings previously ranked 19th nationally in salary at $535,000, earning more than his counterparts at major programs like Michigan, Tennessee, Auburn, and UCLA. USC, a private university, is not obligated to make salary figures public, but their attempt to lure Owings reportedly prompted Indiana to act decisively to retain him.
This move is part of a broader commitment by Indiana to invest in its football staff. Defensive coordinator Bryant Haines also received a new contract after interest from Ohio State, pushing his salary to over $2 million annually — among the highest for assistants nationwide.
All of Indiana’s assistant coaches received two-year extensions this offseason, with Haines and Owings receiving enhanced contracts. Only one assistant from the 2024 staff left the program — offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri, now at UCLA — and he was replaced by Chandler Whitmer, who takes over as quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator.
These staff moves follow head coach Curt Cignetti’s eight-year contract extension signed in December. The deal includes a $500,000 base salary, escalating outside income starting at $6.8 million annually, and a $1 million yearly retention bonus, along with extensive performance-based incentives. Cignetti also oversees an $11 million annual salary pool for coaching and support staff.
Leave a Reply