Curt Cignetti

Curt Cignetti joined the Crimson Tide football coaching staff in February of 2007 as receivers coach and recruiting coordinator. The recently completed 2008 signing class earned a national ranking of number one according to most recruiting analysts.

In his first year at the Capstone, Cignetti coached senior D.J. Hall as he established school records for career receiving yards and receptions. Hall was one of only three SEC receivers to reach the 1,000-yard mark in 2007.

Entering his 26th season in the college coaching ranks, Cignetti spent the previous seven seasons as tight ends coach, recruiting coordinator and quarterbacks coach at North Carolina State. He served as recruiting coordinator while coaching tight ends (from 2000-02 and 2005-06) and quarterbacks (2003-04). In 2005, Cignetti was ranked among the nation’s top 25 recruiters by Rivals.com. Among the players Cignetti coached during his tenure with the Wolfpack was the ACC Player of the Year, quarterback Philip Rivers in 2003. Rivers set ACC records for passing yards (4,491) and touchdown passes (34) while leading the country in completion percentage (72.0) and passing efficiency (170.5). He also coached first team All-ACC tight end Sean Berton in 2002 and second team All-ACC tight ends TJ Williams (2005) and Anthony Hill (2006).

Prior to working with the Wolfpack, Cignetti spent six seasons (1994-99) on the staff at the University of Pittsburgh. As recruiting coordinator during his six seasons at Pitt, he coached tight ends for the Panthers from 1994-96 and in 1999, and coached the quarterbacks in 1997-98. Among Cignetti’s future NFL players at Pittsburgh were quarterback Pete Gonzalez, tight end John Jones and tight end Kirk McMullen. Cignetti was quarterbacks coach at Temple from 1989-92, coached quarterbacks at Rice from 1986-88 and coached quarterbacks and receivers at Davidson in 1985. Cignetti began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Pittsburgh in 1983-84.

As a player, Cignetti played quarterback at West Virginia University from 1979-82. During his playing career, Cignetti played on teams that made consecutive bowl appearances in 1981-82 (1981 Peach Bowl and 1982 Gator Bowl). He was honored with the Lewis D. Meisel Award for academic excellence and the A.C. "Whitey" Gwynn Award for character while playing for the Mountaineers.

Cignetti hails from a family that has deep coaching roots. His father, Frank, was head coach at West Virginia and Indiana University of Pennsylvania, racking up 199 career victories before retiring at the conclusion of the 2005 season. Curt’s brother, Frank Jr., is also a veteran of the college coaching ranks and is currently the offensive coordinator at California.

Cignetti earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from West Virginia. He is married to the former Manette Lawer and the couple has three children: Curtis John (16), Carly Ann (15) and Natalie (11).

Burton Burns Curt Cignetti Bo Davis Joe Pendry Kirby Smart Kevin Steele Lance Thompson Jim McElwain Bobby Williams
	Curt Cignetti joined the Crimson Tide football coaching staff in February of 2007 as receivers coach and recruiting coordinator. The recently completed 2008 signing class earned a national ranking of number one according to most recruiting analysts. In his first year at the Capstone, Cignetti coached senior D.J. Hall as he established school records for career receiving yards and receptions. Hall was one of only three SEC receivers to reach the 1,000-yard mark in 2007. Entering his 26th season in the college coaching ranks, Cignetti spent the previous seven seasons as tight ends coach, recruiting coordinator and quarterbacks coach at North Carolina State. He served as recruiting coordinator while coaching tight ends (from 2000-02 and 2005-06) and quarterbacks (2003-04). In 2005, Cignetti was ranked among the nation’s top 25 recruiters by Rivals.com. Among the players Cignetti coached during his tenure with the Wolfpack was the ACC Player of the Year, quarterback Philip Rivers in 2003. Rivers set ACC records for passing yards (4,491) and touchdown passes (34) while leading the country in completion percentage (72.0) and passing efficiency (170.5). He also coached first team All-ACC tight end Sean Berton in 2002 and second team All-ACC tight ends TJ Williams (2005) and Anthony Hill (2006). Prior to working with the Wolfpack, Cignetti spent six seasons (1994-99) on the staff at the University of Pittsburgh. As recruiting coordinator during his six seasons at Pitt, he coached tight ends for the Panthers from 1994-96 and in 1999, and coached the quarterbacks in 1997-98. Among Cignetti’s future NFL players at Pittsburgh were quarterback Pete Gonzalez, tight end John Jones and tight end Kirk McMullen. Cignetti was quarterbacks coach at Temple from 1989-92, coached quarterbacks at Rice from 1986-88 and coached quarterbacks and receivers at Davidson in 1985. Cignetti began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Pittsburgh in 1983-84. As a player, Cignetti played quarterback at West Virginia University from 1979-82. During his playing career, Cignetti played on teams that made consecutive bowl appearances in 1981-82 (1981 Peach Bowl and 1982 Gator Bowl). He was honored with the Lewis D. Meisel Award for academic excellence and the A.C. "Whitey" Gwynn Award for character while playing for the Mountaineers. Cignetti hails from a family that has deep coaching roots. His father, Frank, was head coach at West Virginia and Indiana University of Pennsylvania, racking up 199 career victories before retiring at the conclusion of the 2005 season. Curt’s brother, Frank Jr., is also a veteran of the college coaching ranks and is currently the offensive coordinator at California. Cignetti earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from West Virginia. He is married to the former Manette Lawer and the couple has three children: Curtis John (16), Carly Ann (15) and Natalie (11).