Duke University Football Coaches

Duke University Football: A Coaching Carousel

The Blue Devils are in search of a new head coach after David Cutcliffe stepped down following the 2021 season.

Cutcliffe, who had been at Duke since 2008, led the Blue Devils to six bowl games and three ACC Coastal Division championships. However, Duke has not had a winning season since 2018, and the program has struggled to compete in recent years.

Potential Candidates

Several candidates have been mentioned as potential replacements for Cutcliffe, including:

• Matt Rhule: The former Baylor head coach is a hot commodity after leading the Bears to a Big 12 Championship in 2021. Rhule has a reputation for turning around struggling programs, and he could be a good fit for Duke.
• Jeff Hafley: The Boston College head coach has done a great job with the Eagles in his two seasons at the helm. Hafley has a defensive background, and he could help Duke improve on that side of the ball.
• Mike Elko: The former Notre Dame defensive coordinator is a rising star in the coaching ranks. Elko has a reputation for being a great recruiter, and he could help Duke land some top-notch talent.

The Blue Devils are expected to make a decision on their next head coach in the coming weeks. Whoever is hired will have a lot of work to do to get Duke back to being a competitive program.