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Curt Cignetti Recalls Recruiting Mark Ingram to Alabama
Cignetti reflects on his visits to Flint, Michigan to land the future Heisman Trophy winner.
Published on Feb. 21, 2026
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Former Alabama assistant coach Curt Cignetti recently recalled his recruiting visits to Flint, Michigan to land star running back Mark Ingram, who went on to win the Heisman Trophy and a national championship with the Crimson Tide. Cignetti, now the head coach at Indiana, described the snowy conditions and casual pizza dinners that helped him and Alabama secure Ingram's commitment.
Why it matters
Cignetti's ability to recruit elite talent like Ingram was a key part of Alabama's rise to college football dominance under Nick Saban. Ingram's Heisman-winning season in 2009 and the Crimson Tide's national title that year marked a pivotal moment in the program's history.
The details
During his four years on Alabama's staff from 2007-2010, Cignetti served as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator. He was instrumental in landing numerous top prospects, including running back Mark Ingram from Flint, Michigan. Cignetti recalled making two recruiting visits to Ingram's home, where they would eat pizza and discuss Ingram joining the Crimson Tide. Ingram, who was impressed that Cignetti was the first Alabama coach he met, went on to have a standout career at Alabama from 2008-2010, culminating in winning the Heisman Trophy in 2009 and helping the team capture the BCS National Championship that season.
- In 2007, Cignetti accepted an offer to join Nick Saban's inaugural staff at Alabama.
- Cignetti served on Alabama's staff from 2007-2010.
- Ingram played for Alabama from 2008-2010.
- Ingram won the Heisman Trophy in 2009.
- Alabama won the BCS National Championship in 2009.
The players
Curt Cignetti
The current head coach at Indiana, Cignetti served as an assistant coach at Alabama from 2007-2010, where he was instrumental in recruiting star running back Mark Ingram.
Mark Ingram
A running back who played for Alabama from 2008-2010, Ingram won the Heisman Trophy in 2009 and helped the Crimson Tide capture the BCS National Championship that season.
Nick Saban
The longtime head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, Saban led the team to multiple national championships during Cignetti's tenure as an assistant coach.
What they’re saying
“I remember two of them, I think, and it was snowing like hell. One time you were at a track meet. The other time I think we ate pizza in your living room.”
— Curt Cignetti, Former Alabama Assistant Coach (The Triple Option podcast)
“You was the first person I saw from Alabama. I'm like, 'OK, OK, I'm doing something now. I got Coach Cignetti and the Crimson Tide here in Flint, Michigan'.”
— Mark Ingram (The Triple Option podcast)
The takeaway
Cignetti's ability to connect with and recruit elite talent like Mark Ingram was a crucial component of Alabama's rise to college football dominance under Nick Saban. Ingram's Heisman-winning season and the Crimson Tide's national title in 2009 marked a pivotal moment in the program's history, and Cignetti's efforts to land Ingram played a key role in that success.
