Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
If you thought that Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti might pull back a little on his intense demeanor after winning a national championship in just his second season in Bloomington, then think again.
Cignetti and the Hoosiers opened up spring practice ahead of the 2026 season this week and he already made the expectations clear to new members of the team, including star wide receiver transfer Nick Marsh.
Marsh, one of the top-rated receivers in the transfer portal according to On3, joined Indiana after catching 100 passes for 1,311 yards and nine touchdowns with the Michigan State Spartans in his first two seasons of college football.
But according to Cignetti, he came into spring ball with a little bit too much bravado for the head coach’s liking.
Indiana WR Nick Marsh wore gold cleats to IU’s first spring camp session. Curt Cignetti was not pleased to see that.
“He learned what getting your ass ripped is all about. I don’t know if that happened to him very often at Michigan State.” #iufb pic.twitter.com/UHRMM0i2bf
— Jared Kelly (@Jared_Kelly7) March 26, 2026
Curt Cignetti Puts Nick Marsh In His Place Over Gold Cleats
Marsh reportedly showed up to the first day of practice wearing gold cleats, which Cignetti wasn’t exactly a fan of.
“I didn’t love those gold shoes he came out in today,” Cignetti told reporters. “He learned what getting your a– ripped is all about. I don’t know if that happened to him very often at Michigan State. That was before practice started.
“That was a wake-up call,” Cignetti continued. “But he’s really worked hard, done a great job for us.”
Marsh is expected to play a key role for the Hoosiers in 2026 as they look to replace their three leading receivers from last year.
Potential first-round NFL Draft pick Omar Cooper Jr., Elijah Sarratt, and E.J. Williams combined for 170 receptions, 2,205 yards, and 34 touchdowns last season. All three have since exhausted their eligibility or, in the case of Cooper, entered the NFL Draft.
The Hoosiers do return big-play threat Charlie Becker, who caught 34 passes for 679 yards and four touchdowns. Becker’s 20 yards per reception were the tops on the team in 2025.
Cignetti will be hoping that Becker, in addition to Marsh, will help fill the large void in production vacated by last year’s leading trio.