Indiana strength coach re-signs with Hoosiers

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) — The Indiana Hoosiers strength coach Derek Owings is staying in Bloomington.

Owings has reportedly signed a three-year contract extension with a “significant pay raise,” according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Ownings stays with the Hoosiers football program after coming to Bloomington with head coach Curt Cignetti last season. He helped the Hoosiers make it to their first College Football Playoff after a historically successful season under Cignetti. Owings has been on Cignetti’s staff since being hired as the James Madison strength coach in 2020.

Rumors were swirling around that Southern California had interest in bringing Owings to the Trojans’ family. According to Thamel, USC “made a strong push” for Owings, but he opted to stay with the Hoosiers.

Three of Owings’ student-athletes at Indiana received All-American honors — linebacker Aiden Fisher, defensive lineman Mikail Kamara and defensive back D’Angelo Ponds.

IU also retaining both its offensive and defensive coordinators, keeping most of the staff intact after last year’s success.

The Hoosiers finished the 2024 regular season with a program-best 11-1 record before falling in the first round of the College Football Playoff to Notre Dame.