Football coach David Cutcliffe is staying at Duke.
Amid reports that he was a candidate for the opening at
Tennessee, the two-time Volunteers assistant coach said Friday he
would remain with the Blue Devils.
"After much thought and consideration, Karen and I reached
the decision that Duke is the place for our family," Cutcliffe said
in a statement issued through the school.
Because of his deep-rooted connections to the Southeastern
Conference and the Volunteers' program, Cutcliffe was considered
one of the obvious choices to replace Lane Kiffin, who left
abruptly this week for Southern California.
"We have both family members and lifetime friends in the
Knoxville community and share a deep respect for the University of
Tennessee," he said. "Our ties to the school and the eastern
Tennessee area are obvious. But before Tennessee's hiring process
comes to a conclusion, I know that Duke University is where we want
to coach."
Duke athletic director Kevin White said Cutcliffe told him
Friday morning that he "intends to remain the Duke football coach
for a long time."
"Simply put, we could not be happier or more excited about
the future of the Blue Devils football program," White said.
Cutcliffe was on Tennessee's staff from 1982-1998 and from
2006-07, leaving twice to take head coaching jobs.
He went 44-29 with five bowl appearances in six-plus seasons
at Mississippi from 1998-2004. Cutcliffe is 9-15 in two seasons at
Duke, which won a combined eight games in the five years before he
arrived. The Blue Devils are coming off a 5-7 finish, their best
since 1994.
This marks the second time in nearly 15 months that he
removed his name from consideration for the Tennessee job. When
longtime friend and mentor Phillip Fulmer was forced out in
November 2008, Cutcliffe quickly quashed speculation that he would
return to Knoxville.
Cutcliffe to remain at Duke
Football coach David Cutcliffe is staying at Duke.
Amid reports that he was a candidate for the opening at
Tennessee, the two-time Volunteers assistant coach said Friday he
would remain with the Blue Devils.
"After much thought and consideration, Karen and I reached
the decision that Duke is the place for our family," Cutcliffe said
in a statement issued through the school.
Because of his deep-rooted connections to the Southeastern
Conference and the Volunteers' program, Cutcliffe was considered
one of the obvious choices to replace Lane Kiffin, who left
abruptly this week for Southern California.
"We have both family members and lifetime friends in the
Knoxville community and share a deep respect for the University of
Tennessee," he said. "Our ties to the school and the eastern
Tennessee area are obvious. But before Tennessee's hiring process
comes to a conclusion, I know that Duke University is where we want
to coach."
Duke athletic director Kevin White said Cutcliffe told him
Friday morning that he "intends to remain the Duke football coach
for a long time."
"Simply put, we could not be happier or more excited about
the future of the Blue Devils football program," White said.
Cutcliffe was on Tennessee's staff from 1982-1998 and from
2006-07, leaving twice to take head coaching jobs.
He went 44-29 with five bowl appearances in six-plus seasons
at Mississippi from 1998-2004. Cutcliffe is 9-15 in two seasons at
Duke, which won a combined eight games in the five years before he
arrived. The Blue Devils are coming off a 5-7 finish, their best
since 1994.
This marks the second time in nearly 15 months that he
removed his name from consideration for the Tennessee job. When
longtime friend and mentor Phillip Fulmer was forced out in
November 2008, Cutcliffe quickly quashed speculation that he would
return to Knoxville.