Indiana’s Curt Cignetti makes NFL admission amid coaching carousel

MIAMI — Curt Cignetti has no interest in coaching in the NFL. 

With his quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, expected to be taken as the No. 1 overall pick in the draft by the Raiders, there has been some thought that Las Vegas could call him to gauge his interest. The Raiders are without a coach after firing Pete Carroll. 

“I mean, I’m not an NFL guy,” the Indiana coach said Saturday during media day for Monday night’s national championship game against Miami at Hard Rock Stadium.

“I made that decision a long time ago when I went with Chuck Amato to N.C. State in 2000.”

At the time, there was an opportunity for Cignetti to join Mike Sherman’s staff with the Packers as an assistant quarterbacks coach. 

“I think Darrell Bevell got the job, ended up taking the job,” Cignetti recalled. “I declined the opportunity. I almost took it. That’s when I made the final decision, and I’ve always been more of a college football guy.”

The 64-year-old Cignetti is paid well by Indiana.

He recently signed an eight-year, $93 million extension through 2033, which pays him an annual salary of $11.6 million.

It also includes a “good-faith market review” if the Hoosiers reach the semifinals of the playoff.

Basically, the school has 120 days after the end of the season to make him one of the three highest-paid coaches in the sport or he can leave without paying a buyout. 

Miami will be without starting cornerback Xavier Lucas in the first half due to a targeting penalty in the Fiesta Bowl.

Fellow corner Damari Brown could return after missing the entire playoff up until this point with a left foot injury. Miami coach Mario Cristobal said Brown will be a game-time decision.

The Hurricanes also will be down their starting tight end, Elija Lofton. He was carted off the field of the Fiesta Bowl with a lower-body injury.

Lofton was fourth on the team in catches (23), receiving yards (218) and touchdown catches (three). 

Indiana could get back kickoff specialist and long field goal kicker Brendan Franke. He has been sidelined with a groin injury since Oct. 25. Franke is listed as questionable. Cignetti called Franke a “huge factor.”