Career
He served as the head football coach at West Virginia University from 1976 to 1979 and at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, compiling a career college football record of 199–77–1. Cignetti led the IUP Indians to the title game of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II National Football Championship in 1990 and 1993. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2013.
Cignetti coached the West Virginia Mountaineers from 1976 to 1979.
His record at West Virginia stands at 17–27, but his most success was in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II football. He coached Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) to a 182–50–1 record from 1986 to 2005.
Under Cignetti, the Indians made their first Division II post-season appearance in 1987. His 28 post-season games is a Division II coaching record, while his 15 playoff wins were second-best when he retired in 2005.
In 1991, he was the Division II coach of the year.
Cignetti"s son, Frank, Junior., played football for his father at IUP from 1985 to 1987. Cignetti, Junior. is a former offensive coordinator for the Saint Louis Rams.