Curt Cignetti Staff Profiles: Defensive Coordinator Bryant Haines

Written by T.J. Inman

Curt Cignetti continues to fill his staff in Bloomington and defensive coordinator Bryant Haines, a Broyles Award (for the nation’s top assistant) semifinalist, is joining his staff at IU. 

The defensive coordinator at James Madison for the past two seasons, Haines has worked with Curt Cignetti at each of his head coaching stops (IUP, Elon and James Madison). In both seasons under Bryant Haines’ play-calling, James Madison finished in the top 25 in rushing yards allowed and sacks. In fact, the Dukes were second in the country in both statistics.

The Dukes finished the 2023 season with the No. 2 scoring defense in the Sun Belt Conference (18.5ppg) and No. 3 in total defense (328.6 ypg). JMU also finished second in the Sun Belt in takeaways created with 21.

Bryant Haines was a star linebacker at Ball State University and graduated from Muncie in 2009. He worked as a graduate assistant at IU in 2012 as a linebackers coach at Ohio State in 2013 before joining with Cignetti at IUP. At James Madison, he has worked with linebackers and was the co-defensive coordinator from 2019 to 2021. Haines was the linebackers coach in addition to being the defensive coordinator for the past two seasons. It is unclear if he will still be a position coach for the Hoosiers or if he will only be the defensive coordinator. 

Hoosier Huddle will continue to cover the beginning of the Curt Cignetti era and keep you informed of any developments.