My Indiana Hoosiers (or is it Bison?) are 10-0 and ranked second in the nation. What Coach Curt Cignetti has accomplished in his year-plus in Bloomington is nothing short of remarkable. Coach Cignetti worked under the GOAT, Nick Saban, at Alabama for four seasons, and he cites Coach Saban as his main influence.
I've written about Saban in this column here. Studying both coaches, today I propose a framework we can all use for building teams and winning championships. It's a paradox, but in the age of AI, leadership style and people matter more than ever—so listen up. Here we go.
1. PROCESS OVER OUTCOMES
Don't think about winning championships. Think about what you need to do in this drill, on this play, in this moment. Stop obsessing about quarterly results and execute today's tasks with precision. Think about the eight hours in this day and the 65 business days in this quarter, not the quarter.
2. TRANSFORMATIONAL, NOT TRANSACTIONAL
Saban shifted from transactional to transformational leadership at Michigan State in 1998 against Ohio State when he realized he couldn't win the "transaction" against a superior team. Transformational leadership means you care about other people to help them for their benefit, not your benefit - if it's for your benefit, it's manipulation. Stop managing tasks. Start developing people.
3. CULTURE EATS EVERYTHING
The No. 1 thing is culture, and the culture comes from the individuals who make the team what it is. Mediocre people don't like high achievers; high achievers don't like mediocre people - you can't let those two things coexist. Fire the mediocre. Now.
4. PRODUCTION OVER POTENTIAL
Cignetti's "production over potential" principle means an underperforming five-star has to compete for playing time with a less-talented player who does his job on the field. Stop hiring based on résumés and pedigree. Hire based on what people have actually accomplished.
5. CHANGE THE WAY PEOPLE THINK
Becoming head coach after Indiana posted a dismal 3-9 record in 2023, Cignetti was asked about his biggest challenge and said simply: "Changing the way people think." Your first job isn't strategy - it's breaking the loser mentality.
6. ELIMINATE DECISION FATIGUE
Saban eats two Oatmeal Creme Pies for breakfast every morning and the same salad every day for lunch so he doesn't have to spend a single second debating what he wants. Automate the trivial. Save mental energy for what matters.
7. HIRE TOWARD YOUR WEAKNESS
Saban hired outspoken Lane Kiffin as offensive coordinator—he in many ways is everything Saban is not—because he respected Kiffin's offensive mind. Stop surrounding yourself with yes-men. Hire people who make you uncomfortable because they're better than you at something critical.
8. THE 24-HOUR RULE
Saban allows himself, his team and his coaching staff 24 hours to either enjoy a victory or contemplate a defeat, then they move on to the next goal. Stop celebrating or wallowing. Next play.
9. CONTROL THE NARRATIVE
Saban was a master in handling the media, going on a rant or two every season to divert attention away from one story line and redirect it back to what he believes is important. Cignetti has followed suit. If you're not influencing the story your people believe, you're failing to lead them.
10. AGGRESSIVE CONFIDENCE
When asked what fans should expect, Cignetti said simply: "I win. Google me." National coverage has characterized his public tone and on-field identity as unapologetically aggressive, noting his "attack" ethos and unwillingness to "play nice." Stop hedging. Own your track record.
11. BRING YOUR SYSTEM, NOT THEIRS
Cignetti took the majority of his staff from James Madison and immediately got to work, bringing in 22 transfers. Don't inherit broken culture. Import winning culture.
12. ACCOUNTABILITY IS NON-NEGOTIABLE
Cignetti cites a culture of accountability as critical - the best players don't need coaches barking at them to show up to conditioning on time or study the playbook. If you're micromanaging, you hired wrong.
13. ONE-PLAY-AT-A-TIME MENTALITY
Cignetti's emphasis: "We try to play every play like it's nothing-nothing, game on the line, regardless of the competitive circumstances." His philosophy of fighting human nature keeps his team focused — ignoring outside noise, staying level-headed, and locking in on the next play. Stop thinking about the quarter. Execute this hour, this day.
14. MENTAL TOUGHNESS THROUGH FUNDAMENTALS
One of Indiana's defining characteristics is the way it limits mistakes — Cignetti's emphasis on fundamentals and playing relentlessly but also disciplined has molded a team that doesn't give much away. Discipline isn't punishment. It's freedom through mastery of basics.
15. OBSESSIVE PREPARATION
Recently, Cignetti mentioned UCLA's fake punts in multiple media availabilities during the week, and Special Teams Coordinator Grant Cain made sure players were ready — they stopped a fake on fourth-and-7. Preparation isn't paranoia. It's professional obligation.
16. MODEL RELENTLESS WORK ETHIC
Cignetti: "I put in the hours because I expect my team to do the same. You can't out-talent hard work. Teams win because they outwork the competition." If you're not the hardest worker, you have no credibility if you demand it from others.
17. EVALUATE RUTHLESSLY, CONSTANTLY—AND SHOOT STRAIGHT WITH PLAYERS
Over time, "kind lies" lead to dysfunctional (read: losing) systems; "unkind truths" lead to functional (read: winning) systems. Give true feedback. Deal in truth over feelings. Tell your players it's not criticism, it's coaching — which is what they said they signed up for.
18. ADAPTABILITY WITHIN DISCIPLINE
Cignetti: "You can't win today's game with yesterday's plan. Adjustments are the name of the game. Leadership is about seeing the big picture but knowing when to pivot in the moment." Saban benched starting QB Jalen Hurts at halftime of the national championship game and replaced him with Tua Tagovailoa when the game plan needed it — Hurts' response: "Tua was purpose-built for tonight." Process doesn't mean rigidity. It means disciplined flexibility.
19. RECRUIT FOR FIT, NOT FLASH
Cignetti didn't just sift through the transfer portal — he interviewed players with a purpose, bringing in transfers who were the best players on their previous teams and had played a lot of football. Stop hiring for credentials. Hire for proven performance in your system.
20. CLARITY ELIMINATES CONFUSION
A key element of Saban's process is clearly defined expectations for players not only on the field but also academically and personally, including a dress code, and monitors players year-round. Ambiguity is the enemy of execution.
THE HARD TRUTH
The "process" is easier to define than execute: Execution requires obsessive attention to process, zero tolerance for mediocrity, relentless preparation, and absolute accountability. Winning isn't complicated, but it requires high daily energy, absolute discipline, and zero tolerance for BS.
