Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti has done one of the best two-year coaching jobs in college football. He believes his wife, Manette Cignetti, is a key reason for his success. On Monday night, the Hoosiers will take on the Miami Hurricanes for a chance to win the first national championship in program history, with Manette cheering her husband on.
Who Is Curt Cignetti’s Wife, Manette?
Manette, her maiden name Manette Lawer, met her husband in Indiana, Pennsylvania. She is one of 10 children and was a pharmacy student at the time when she quickly bonded with Curt, who was visiting his parents.
They started a long-distance relationship, became engaged in 1988, and married in May 1989. In just a few months, they will celebrate their 37th wedding anniversary.
“We were doing a long distance keep in touch,” Manette said. “Then I went to visit him for Halloween, and he asked me to marry him…He just looked at me and said, ‘Will you marry me?’ It came out of nowhere. I said ‘Yes.’”
Curt’s skills impressed Manette, and they have three children: Curtis John, Carly Ann, and Natalie Elise.
“He’s super organized. He’s everything I’m not. He’s always looking for the edge. He can juggle anything,” Mannette said via the Indianapolis Star. “He leads by example. He has great integrity. He’s a great role model for these kids. He’s 100% all in and that’s why his players are the same way.”
While Manette might not be an athlete, she is the support system that fuels Curt and their children.
Natalie was quite the athlete. She played for the IUP women’s volleyball team. She was named the PSAC Women’s Volleyball Athlete of the Year. She earned Academic All-America honors and was a three-time All-PSAC selection.
That organization has clearly fueled his success and is key to his effectiveness in the transfer portal.
The two clearly have a relationship that many couples strive for. They aren’t without their own battles. There’s an old recliner that Curt just won’t get rid of, which caused controversy in the Cignetti household.
“She’s trying to replace it right now,” he said, laughing. “There is some resistance going on, but it doesn’t match the room, so we’ll see what happens.” Curt often highlights his wife’s importance and appreciates the sacrifices she has made that have helped the family reach its current position.
Ahead of the Peach Bowl clash with Oregon, Cignetti praised her influence on his career, showcasing a softer side to a man who has become known for his stoic exterior and smileless sideline expression.
“I want to thank my wife, Manette, for allowing me to do what I love to do. Without her, this wouldn’t be possible. We’re a team.”
Manette is just as proud as her husband. And why should she not be?
In Cignetti’s first season in Bloomington (Year 1), the Hoosiers went 11-2. They reached the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, losing to Notre Dame 27-17 in the first round.
In the following season (Year 2), despite expectations for a decline, the Hoosiers improved to a perfect 15-0 record. They won the Big Ten, defeated Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl, then obliterated the Oregon Ducks in the Peach Bowl to book a place in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
Manette said, “We were like, ‘This is the big time. It doesn’t get any bigger than this.’ I was just really proud. It’s been a long road, and he’s worked so hard.”
The Hoosiers and Hurricanes will kick off at 7:50 p.m. ET in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. The game will be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. It will be broadcast on ESPN, with a full MegaCast suite available to viewers across multiple ESPN channels and the ESPN app.