Duke head coach David Cutcliffe has hired former Purdue offensive line coach Jim Bridge to take over as the Blue Devils' new special teams coordinator and tight ends coach, the program announced Friday evening.
Bridge's hire completes an internal coaching carousel that saw offensive coordinator Scottie Montgomery leave Durham to become the head coach at East Carolina in December. Cutcliffe filled Montgomery's shoes Jan. 8 by promoting Zac Roper—formerly Duke's special teams coordinator and tight ends coach—to offensive coordinator. Bridge now steps into Roper's former role.
“We’re certainly thrilled to have Jim Bridge and his family join the Duke family,” Cutcliffe said in a press release. “Jim’s professional track record speaks for itself. He’s a veteran coach who has been part of some really, really good coaching staffs, and that’s not by accident. He’s coached in a bunch of bowl games. He’s recruited at a very high level. We certainly knew Jim from both a coaching and recruiting standpoint when he was at N.C. State. On top of the coaching aspect, I know he’ll fit right into our program because of his value system. He’s a great husband and father. He’s a terrific addition to our staff."
Bridge's hire was first reported by the Raleigh News and Observer Wednesday.
Bridge comes to Durham from the Big Ten, but he has plenty of coaching experience in the ACC, and even inside the Triangle. He coached tight ends at Boston College under former head coach Tom O’ Brien from 2003-06. In 2007, Bridge followed O’Brien to N.C. State, where he coached tight ends from 2007-10 and then served as offensive line coach from 2011-12.
DeVon Edwards spearheaded the Blue Devils' special teams threat in 2015, returning three kickoffs for touchdowns, but Bridge will inherit a young crop of tight ends after the departures of veterans Braxton Deaver, David Reeves. Redshirt junior Erich Schneider saw significant playing time this season, and Tennessee transfer Daniel Helm will be eligible to suit up in 2016.
Following O'Brien's dismissal after the 2012 season, Bridge went to Purdue, where he has coached for the last three years.
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