Indiana Extends Contract of Top Assistant Mike Shanahan
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In a move that solidifies the coaching staff's continuity, the University of Indiana has extended the contract of offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan for three years. According to a source familiar with the deal, the new contract is a testament to Shanahan's exceptional work in leading the Hoosiers' high-scoring offense. This comes on the heels of a successful season, where the team secured its first Big Ten championship since 1967 and first outright league title since 1945. The Hoosiers also achieved an undefeated regular season and No. 1 ranking in school history, with quarterback Fernando Mendoza becoming the team's first Heisman Trophy winner. Shanahan, who has been a vital member of the coaching staff since joining Indiana University-Pennsylvania in 2016, has a proven track record of excellence. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Pittsburgh in 2014 and has worked under coach Curt Cignetti since 2016. Cignetti, who received an eight-year extension worth $93 million in October, has been instrumental in shaping the Hoosiers' success. The top-seeded Hoosiers will open the College Football Playoff in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day against either No. 8 Oklahoma or No. 9 Alabama. Shanahan's promotion to offensive coordinator in 2021 marked a significant milestone in his coaching career. Under his guidance, the Hoosiers have consistently had one of the highest-scoring offenses in the Football Bowl Subdivision, with quarterbacks finishing among the top 10 in Heisman balloting in 2024 and 2025. With this contract extension, Shanahan is set to become one of the nation's highest-paid assistants, joining defensive coordinator Bryant Haines, who agreed to a three-year extension last week.