David Cutcliffe Makes Some Staff Adjustments

After a tough season for Duke, David Cutcliffe has made several staff reassignments.

He won’t be personally calling plays next season, instead delegating responsibilities back to his assistants.

And along those lines, he’s promoted two assistants to be co-offensive coordinators: Jeff Farris and Re’quan Boyette will take over that role and will call plays rather than Cutcliffe.

He said this about why he made the changes: “It’s not necessarily the play calling in itself. It’s the preparation that goes into getting an offense ready that you’re involved with every step. It’s all of the hours upon hours of staff meetings, a film study. I think the play calling itself, I mean, if we really honestly critique this, I don’t think that was really ever our problem, except probably trying to do too much pressing a little bit. And I think when you do that, you get yourself in trouble. And a veteran coach should know that. But it’s just the amount of time.”

It’s not the only change.

Trooper Taylor is moving from wide receivers to coach cornerbacks. Former NFL tight end Calvin Magee, who comes to Duke from Mississippi, will coach running backs. Zac Roper will move from quarterbacks to tight ends. Offensive line coach Greg Frey will be the recruiting coordinator for offense while Lanier Goethie, who coaches linebackers, will handle the defensive recruiting.

Cutcliffe says he feels excited about the changes and that he hopes it excites and rejuvenates staff and team.