Duke Extends Cutcliffe To 2021

For most of our lifetimes, coaching football at Duke was, at most, a four-year deal. You got a four-year contract, you failed, and Duke didn’t renew your contract.

Same for the next guy. And the next.

Not for David Cutcliffe though as Duke has extended his contract to 2021.

It’s wise on the face of it as Cutcliffe has done a brilliant job with a program that had struggled for decades and set the standard for a bad D-1 program.

He’s succeeded beyond anyone’s dreams - well, except his own.

He told people in his first year that he could see a path for Duke to get to a bowl game - that year.

It took a bit longer but he made it and he’s taken Duke four times since, a feat nearly unimaginable prior to his tenure.

It’s wise on the face of it yes, but it’s more than that. Cutcliffe places a real value on loyalty and it’s a two-way street. Remember, he had a 4-7 season at Ole Miss and lost his job. It’s not lost on him that Duke gave him an extension instead.