Cutcliffe ending his 40-year career in college football

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — David Cutcliffe, who guided programs at Mississippi and Duke and served as an assistant at Tennessee, is stepping away from the sport after four decades, retiring from his role as the Southeastern Conference’s special assistant to the commissioner for football relations.

The 68-year-old Cutcliffe had spent the past two seasons in the league office, acting as a liaison between the conference and its football coaches while advising on policy, scheduling, and officiating matters. His departure marks the close of a career that began in 1982 and included head-coaching stops in Oxford from 1998-2004 and in Durham from 2007-2021, along with two separate tenures on Rocky Top as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Cutcliffe informed commissioner Greg Sankey of his decision earlier this week. No interim replacement has been named.