Who Is Indiana Coach Curt Cignetti’s Wife? All About Manette Cignetti

No one was prouder of Curt Cignetti when he took over as the head football coach of the Indiana University Hoosiers in November 2023 than his wife, Manette.

“We were like, ‘This is the big time. It doesn’t get any bigger than this,’ ” she told the IndyStar in August 2024. “I was just really proud. It’s been a long road, and he’s worked so hard.”

The couple met when they were both visiting home, and briefly dated long-distance before Curt proposed in December 1988. They were married the following May and have welcomed two daughters and a son throughout their decades-long marriage.

Manette has been supportive of Curt’s college football coaching career, while also continuing her own work as a pharmacist. Their children, Curt Jr., Carly and Natalie, also pursued jobs in the medical field.

So who is Curt Cignetti’s wife? Here’s everything to know about Manette Cignetti and her relationship with the Indiana University coach.

Manette is from Pennsylvania

Hailing from the same state as her husband, Manette grew up in Indiana, Pa. According to the IndyStar, she was named after her mother’s friend, who was becoming a nun.

Curt told Bloom in June 2024 that his wife grew up in a large family and was the ninth of 10 children.

They met when they were both visiting home

The couple met when they were both visiting their parents at home. Manette was a pharmacy school student in Pittsburgh, while Curt was a quarterback coach at Rice University in Houston.

According to the IndyStar, they attended a party together, and that was that. “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.”

They got married in 1989

Manette told the IndyStar that it wasn’t long after they started dating that Curt popped the question while they were out to dinner in 1988. “He just looked at me and said, ‘Will you marry me?’ ” she recalled. “It came out of nowhere.”

Though she said yes to his impromptu proposal, Curt asked her again — this time with a ring — two months later on Christmas Day.

The two Pennsylvania natives tied the knot on May 27, 1989. During the ceremony, held at a Catholic church, Manette wore a taffeta gown with a cathedral train and a three-tiered veil adorned with silk flowers, pearl sprays and crystal droplets.

She’s a pharmacist 

While Curt has coached college football, Manette has worked as a pharmacist.

Their daughters, Natalie and Carly, also sought out medical careers and became doctors, according to The Athletic. Their son, Curt Jr., has worked in medical sales.

They have three kids

Curt and Manette have welcomed three children throughout their decades-long marriage: Curt Jr., Carly and Natalie.

“My wife’s a superstar,” the football coach told Bloom. “It’s incredible what she did with those kids. When they were young, we didn’t move much. In coaching, it’s all about family when you have free time.”

At least one of their kids briefly followed in their father’s athletic footsteps. According to his Indiana University bio, Natalie played volleyball at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

They also became grandparents when Curt Jr. and his wife welcomed daughters Sophia and Isabelle.

Manette poked fun at his famous recliner 

For over 35 years, Curt has settled into the same teal Bradington Young recliner to eat, watch TV and work out football plays. He told the IndyStar in October 2024 that his wife is not a fan of his favorite chair and that with each of the eight coaching jobs he’s taken, he’s had to fight to bring it along.

“She’s trying to replace it right now,” the coach joked to the outlet after taking the reins of IU’s football team. “There is some resistance going on, but it doesn’t match the room, so we’ll see what happens.”

Though Manette acknowledged that the chair has sentimental value — it was one of the first pieces of furniture they bought as a married couple — she was worried that its days are numbered. “He’s bonded to his chair,” she said, adding, “If I don’t get a new one soon, I fear it’s going to implode when he plops down into it.”

She’s supported his career

Manette has attended multiple of Curt’s games, including his win against the University of Michigan in November 2024. She told the IndyStar that she’s always been impressed with her husband’s work ethic.

“He’s super organized,” Manette said. “He’s everything I’m not. He’s always looking for the edge. He can juggle anything.”

She continued, “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.”