Duke hires Cutcliffe

Dec 15, 2007 - 11:06 PM DURHAM, North Carolina (Ticker) -- David Cutcliffe is ready to take on the biggest challenge of his career.

Currently the offensive coordinator at Tennessee, the 53-year-old Cutcliffe was named football coach at Duke on Saturday.

Cutcliffe officially was introduced during a news conference at the school on Saturday, but will be with Tennessee in the Outback Bowl against Wisconsin on New Year's Day.

"Duke is serious about restoring excitement and a winning tradition to Duke football," school president Richard Brodhead said. "David Cutcliffe's selection as our head coach shows Duke is committed to helping our players achieve the excellence we seek, both on and off the field."

But while Cutcliffe had success in the Southeastern Conference molding future NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, he is taking over the reins of one of the worst programs in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Former Duke coach Ted Roof was fired on November 26 after posting a 6-45 record in his four-plus years at the school.

The Blue Devils went 1-11 this season - beating only Northwestern - and have lost 25 consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference games.

With just 22 wins in the last 13 years, Duke has not had a winning season since 1994, when it went 8-4 and played in the Hall of Fame Bowl. Since 2000, the Blue Devils have endured three winless seasons, including an 0-12 mark last year.

Duke athletic director Joe Alleva said he was looking for a person from a winning program in the Bowl Championship Subdivision with an offensive mentality.

"We found that person in David Cutcliffe," Alleva said. "Coach Cutcliffe is well-respected among his peers and his former players for his coaching knowledge and motivational skills."

Cutcliffe returned to Tennessee in 2006 to begin his second stint as the Volunteers' offensive coordinator, a role he also filled from 1993-1999. During his previous tenure at Tennessee, his prized pupil was Peyton Manning.

Cutcliffe then served as coach at Mississippi, posting a 44-29 record in six seasons from 1999-2004 and guiding the Rebels to four bowl games.

In 2003, the Eli Manning-led Rebels registered a 10-3 record and defeated Oklahoma State, 31-28, in the Cotton Bowl.

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