Curt Cignetti Staff Profiles: Defensive Tackles Coach Pat Kuntz

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

New Indiana University head football coach Curt Cignetti’s staff has taken shape. Much of Cignetti’s philosophy has been to bring with him the coaching staff he worked with at James Madison, and that will be true once again today as we highlight defensive tackles coach Pat Kuntz.

Kuntz is an Indiana native and a graduate of Roncalli High School and played his college football at Notre Dame.  He was also signed as an undrafted free agent by the Indianapolis Colts in 2009 after a very successful career at Notre Dame. He is familiar with the IU program after serving as a graduate assistant from 2016-18.

After coaching with the Hoosiers, Kuntz spent three seasons with Virginia Military Institute (VMI) where he coached the defensive line and served as the defensive run game coordinator. From VMI, Kuntz joined Cignetti’s staff at James Madison.

With the Dukes Kuntz helped lead a defensive line that helped the successful transition from FCS to FBS. JMU ranked 8th in the country in tackles for loss in 2022 (96) and led the country in 2023 with 109. He has coached multiple All-SBC and one honorable mention All-American players in his time at JMU.

247Sports named Kuntz one of the 12 best coaches in America.

The article said, “Look no further than Kuntz when attempting to identify what made James Madison's season so magical. The Dukes' defensive line was incredible, helping the defense to lead the entire nation in tackles for loss (9.1 per game) while finishing No. 2 in sacks (3.8 per game) and No. 10 in forced fumbles (1.1 per game).”

Kuntz will be tasked with turning around an IU defensive line that has struggled to get stops in the backfield and put pressure on quarterbacks.