Duke to hire Cutcliffe

Dec 15, 2007 - 6:40 PM KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Duke is expected to hire Tennessee offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe as its next football coach, The Tennessean reported Saturday.

Duke has not confirmed the report but has scheduled a 5 p.m. EST news conference.

According to the newspaper, Cutcliffe, 53, will coach the Volunteers in the Outback Bowl against Wisconsin on New Year's Day.

Cutcliffe would replace Ted Roof, who was fired after four disastrous seasons.

Taking over at Duke late in the 2003 season, Roof posted a record of 6-45, including a 1-11 record this year. The Blue Devils have lost 25 consecutive games in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Cutcliffe returned to Tennessee in 2006 to begin his second stint as the Volunteers' offensive coordinator, a role he also filled from 1993-1999.

Cutcliffe got his head-coaching job at Mississippi, where he worked from 1999-2004.

After one season as an assistant at Notre Dame, he rejoined Phillip Fulmer's staff at Tennessee last season.

During his time in the SEC, Cutcliffe helped mold two future NFL quarterbacks - Peyton Manning at Tennessee and his younger brother, Eli, at Ole Miss.