Duke Considering Tennessee's Cutcliffe

David Cutcliffe, the offensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee and a former head football coach at Mississippi, is a candidate for the Duke head coaching position, two sources confirmed Wednesday.

One source close to the search said Cutcliffe was in Durham on Wednesday to interview for the position.

Cutcliffe could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but he has said in the past that he would be willing to discuss the head job with Duke.

He got a ringing endorsement from Bruce Warwick, the University of Tennessee assistant athletics director for football operations. Warwick was at Duke a year ago under Ted Roof and worked as director of player personnel.

Warwick insisted Cutcliffe would be an excellent fit for Duke.

“He’s got experience. He’s got a plan. He could go in and shake things up,” Warwick said. “He’s a phenomenal motivator – one of the best I’ve been around.”

Warwick said he did not know if Cutcliffe had interviewed at Duke.

Cutcliffe was in the office earlier this week and was not in the office Wednesday.

Cutcliffe was 44-29 with the Rebels from 1999-2004 and coached Ole Miss to four bowl victories against one loss. He was the only Rebels coach in history to win at least seven games in each of his first five seasons.

Warwick said Cutcliffe knows how to motivate players.

“Duke needs a strong personality and a strong leader,” Warwick said. “He’s as good as they come. He’s recruited North Carolina. He recruited [Asheville linebacker] Leonard Little [to Tennessee].”

Warwick said Cutcliffe wants to be a head coach again, but will be selective as he considers jobs.

“He wants to be a head coach again, but he’s not going to take one to take one, either,” Warwick said.

Duke also has interviewed former UCLA coach Karl Dorrell and current Grambling State coach Rod Broadway.

Duke spokesman Jon Jackson refused to comment on the search.