Cutcliffe Tells Vols No, Tennessee Scrambling For Coaching Interest

Sports News - January 15th, 2010 - Written By Bryan

It seems what many consider to be a top-10 job in College Football is one that nobody wants.

Days after the sudden departure of of head coach Lane Kiffin, Tennessee is still searching for a replacement after losing it's top-three candidates within a 24-hour span.

Texas offensive coordinator Will Mushchamp said no thanks on Thursday, and now Air Force's Troy Calhoun and Duke's David Cutcliffe chose to stay put on Friday.

"After much thought and consideration, Karen and I reached the decision that Duke is the place for our family," Cutcliffe said in a statement via CollegeFootballTalk. "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."

The school will now have to look elsewhere and go deeper into it's wish list, possibly making a charge for Chicago Bears' head coach Lovie Smith. Smith was a defensive backs coach at the school from 1993-94, and may have to swallow his pride a bit to return to the college game. He was offered an interview back in 2008 after Tennessee axed Philip Fulmer, but declined because he had little interest in dropping levels.

Cutcliffe was considered the darkhorse for the job, but had plenty of incentive to take a listen after Muschamp and Calhoun were out of the mix. His was the Vols offensive coordinator earlier in the decade before taking the job in Durham. It comes with far fewer expectations and far more praise if he succeeds, and he would be a demi-god were he to bring the Blue Devils to a bowl next year.

When he took over the program, Duke had just come off a one-win season, and had won 10 in the previous eight years.

"I've said all along that what makes Duke so special is the people, and that is the truth," he continued. "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."

Smith is considered to be a longshot in the search, and Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton still hopes to have a coach announced by the end of the weekend, when the recruiting period restarts. Other reported candidates, according to ESPN, are Lousiana Tech's Derek Dooley and Temple's Al Golden.