First Name
Frank
Last Name
Cignetti
Year Inducted
2013
Bio
Frank Cignetti served as the offensive coordinator at West Virginia University under College Football Hall of Fame coach Bobby Bowden from 1970-75, before taking over as the Mountaineers’ head coach for four seasons (1976-79). The winningest head coach in IUP history, Cignetti led the Hawks to unprecedented success during his 20-year tenure from 1986 to 2005. He led the Hawks to conference titles in his first two seasons in 1986 and 1987 and subsequent Division II national title game appearances in 1990 and 1993. Cignetti took IUP to 13 Division II playoffs appearances, including six trips to the national semifinals, and he led the Hawks to at least a co-share of the PSAC Western Division title 14 times. Under his tutelage, IUP ranked in the Top 20 each season from 1986-2004, achieving undefeated regular seasons in 1991 and 1993. The Washington Township, Pennsylvania, native retired after the 2005 season with an overall record of 199-77-1, finishing as the third-winningest active coach in Division II. His teams received the Lambert Cup 10 times as the top Division II team in the East. He was named the PSAC West Coach of the Year five times and the Kodak College Division Regional Coach of the Year three times en route to earning Chevrolet Division II National Coach of the Year honors in 1991. He coached 11 First Team All-Americans and 124 First Team All-PSAC performers.
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