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UPDATE, 11 a.m. | The David Cutcliffe Era will extend into at least a third season after Duke’s head coach rejected overtures from the University of Tennessee and decided to remain with the Blue Devils.
Cutcliffe, a former Tennessee assistant, was reported to be in serious talks with Tennessee throughout Thursday and was unavailable for comment at the time, but came out this morning with a statement indicating his intention to continue building the Blue Devil program.
"After much thought and consideration, Karen and I reached the decision that Duke is the place for our family," Cutcliffe said in a statement. "We have both family members and lifetime friends in the Knoxville community and share a deep respect for the University of Tennessee. 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.”
Cutcliffe worked at Tennessee for nearly 20 years, giving him an unparalleled familiarity with the institution and football program. After former head coach Lane Kiffin bolted for USC, Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp and Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun both turned down the job, making Cutcliffe one of the leading candidates.
Had Cutcliffe left, Duke would have had to search for its second coach in three years. Instead, the University can rest easy.
"David Cutcliffe informed us this morning that he intends to remain the Duke football coach for a long time," Duke Vice President & Director of Athletics Kevin White said. "He is a tremendous football coach, and an even better person with a terrific family. Simply put, we could not be happier or more excited about the future of the Blue Devil football program.”
Cutcliffe has compiled a 9-15 record in two seasons at Duke—a record that would not have gone over well in Knoxville. But Cutcliffe took over the Blue Devil program while it languished among the worst in the FBS and has made it competitive in the ACC in his time at the helm.
Cutcliffe is expected to address the media this afternoon, so stay with The Chronicle for more updates on his decision.
UPDATE, 9:10 a.m. | The full statements from Cutcliffe:
“After much thought and consideration, Karen and I reached the decision that Duke is the place for our family. We have both family members and lifetime friends in the Knoxville community and share a deep respect for the University of Tennessee. 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.“I’ve said all along that what makes Duke so special is the people, and that is the truth. We’ve received tremendous support from President Brodhead, Kevin White and the rest of the school’s administration and are very grateful for their efforts. We have the best coaching staff in the country, and are convinced that we will continue to build a successful football program that both the Duke and Durham communities will be proud of.
“We are extremely excited about the future of this program. From the players we have returning, to our work on the recruiting front to our facility projects, we know we’re headed in the right direction.”
And a statement from White:
“David Cutcliffe informed us this morning that he intends to remain the Duke football coach for a long time. He is a tremendous football coach, and an even better person with a terrific family. Simply put, we could not be happier or more excited about the future of the Blue Devil football program. In just two years, David and his stellar coaching staff have made a significant impact on the department, the university and the Durham community. Together, we look forward to building on that great work for many years to come. Under David’s guidance and with the strong support of university leadership, Duke is committed to building a football program consistent with the standard of excellence exhibited throughout the entire institution.”
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