For decades, David Cutcliffe had been a fixture on the sidelines of the SEC and the ACC, both as an assistant coach and as a head coach. Now, he’s riding off into the sunset, announcing his retirement on Tuesday.
“I leave this game with a full heart and a deep sense of gratitude, especially for the young men I’ve had the privilege to coach,” Cutcliffe said in an SEC release. “The players have always been the reason and the reward. Watching them grow, not just as players, but as students, leaders, sons, husbands, and fathers, has been the greatest joy of my career. I’m equally thankful for the outstanding coaches, staff members, and administrators who worked alongside me, but it’s the relationships with our players that I will treasure most. They taught me as much as I ever taught them. College football has given me a lifetime of memories and friendships, and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to be part of so many young lives.”
Cutcliffe got his first college job at Tennessee in 1982, working as an offensive assistant in multiple roles until he became the Ole Miss head coach in 1998. Later, he would also become the head coach at Duke. In the process, he proved to be the most underappreciated coach around.
