David Cutcliffe Staff

David Cutcliffe, head football coach the last six seasons at the University of Mississippi, has been named assistant head coach (offense) and quarterbacks coach at the University of Notre Dame on the football coaching staff of new Irish head coach Charlie Weis.

Cutcliffe produced a 44-29 ledger (.603) in his six seasons (1999-2004) as Ole Miss head coach. He[apos]s the only Rebel coach to win at least seven games in his first five seasons, and he joined John Vaught as the only coaches to produce five straight seven-win campaigns during their tenures at Mississippi.

The appearance in the [apos]04 Cotton Bowl marked the Rebels[apos] fourth bowl game in Cutcliffe[apos]s first five seasons. Following a 31-28 victory over Oklahoma State in that contest, Ole Miss ended the [apos]03 campaign with a 10-3 overall record and final national ranking of 13th. Cutcliffe earned Southeastern Conference coach-of-the-year honors from both Associated Press and the league coaches.

Considered one of the best offensive minds in college football, Cutcliffe less than a month after taking the Ole Miss job saw his Rebels stun favored Texas Tech 35-18 in the [apos]98 Independence Bowl. He led Mississippi to an 8-4 mark in his first full season in [apos]99 — capped by a 27-25 win over Oklahoma in the [apos]99 Independence Bowl. The Rebels finished 22nd in both final polls that season.

In 2000 Ole Miss finished 7-5 and met West Virginia in the Music City Bowl. The [apos]01 campaign saw the Rebels record their fifth straight seven-win season at 7-4.

Facing perhaps the strongest schedule in school history, the [apos]02 campaign saw Cutcliffe engineer Ole Miss to another bowl appearance – and the 27-23 win over Nebraska in the Independence Bowl closed a 7-6 campaign.

He came to Ole Miss following 17 seasons on the Tennessee staff, the last six as offensive coordinator.

Cutcliffe has coached eight players who became first-round NFL draft picks, including Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning (chosen first overall by San Diego in the [apos]04 draft, then traded to the New York Giants) and Ole Miss running back Deuce McAllister (he went to New Orleans with the 23rd overall pick in the [apos]01 draft). While at Tennessee, Cutcliffe developed Eli[apos]s brother, Peyton Manning, into one of the most prolific signal-callers in SEC and NCAA history and the first overall selection in the [apos]98 NFL draft.

Peyton Manning — under Cutcliffe[apos]s guidance — set 42 records during his career and passed for 11,201 yards (first all-time in the SEC), as he became, at the time, only the fourth player in NCAA history to pass for more than 11,000 yards. Eli surpassed his brother by setting 47 Ole Miss records and became the fifth player in SEC history to pass for 10,000 yards with 10,119.

As Vol quarterback coach, Cutcliffe also supervised the development of future NFL signal-callers Heath Shuler and Tee Martin. With Cutcliffe serving as offensive coordinator, the Vols led the SEC in total offense three times, rushing offense three times, and scoring offense once. The [apos]97 team averaged 482.83 yards per game, and the [apos]93 squad averaged 42.8 points per game.

While serving as head coach at Ole Miss, Cutcliffe also maintained a hands-on role with the offense. In [apos]99, Ole Miss had one of the top rushing tandems in the country as running backs Joe Gunn and McAllister combined for 1,760 yards and 17 TDs. Ole Miss[apos] [apos]03 offense was one of the most productive in school history – as the Rebels scored an Ole Miss record 442 points. Ole Miss also set a school record for total offense in [apos]03 with 5,631 yards. The Rebels[apos] average of 433.2 yards of offense per game shattered the school record of 419.2 from [apos]61. Cutcliffe spent the last six years at Ole Miss with current Irish offensive line coach John Latina, who served as his offensive line coach all six seasons and his offensive coordinator the past five years.

At Ole Miss, Cutcliffe continued his success of helping develop successful quarterbacks, as he coached two of the most decorated signal-callers in school history in Romaro Miller and Eli Manning. Miller finished his career with several school records, including career passing yards and career TD passes.

During his senior season, Manning passed for 3,600 yards, including 29 TD passes, and led the SEC in passing yards (276.9) and total offense yards (274.8) per game. Both AP and the SEC coaches named him the [apos]03 SEC Offensive Player of the Year. Manning also earned the Maxwell Award as the nation[apos]s top collegiate player, and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which goes to the country[apos]s top senior quarterback, while being one of four finalists for the Heisman Trophy (he finished third).

While serving on the Tennessee staff, Cutcliffe helped the Vols compile a 154-46-7 record while winning five SEC championships, and one national title. In his 17 years at Tennessee the Vols went to 16 bowl games, winning 11 times, rolling up five straight bowl victories during one stretch (1985-90 seasons) – and seven times finishing in the final AP top 25.

He received the Frank Broyles Award, given annually to the nation[apos]s top assistant coach, in 1998 (and also was a finalist in [apos]97).

Born Sept. 16, 1954, in Birmingham, Ala., David Nelson Cutcliffe attended the University of Alabama and received his bachelor of science degree in health, physical education and recreation in 1976. He returned to his alma mater, Banks (Ala.) High School, as an assistant coach for four years – then was named head coach in 1980. His teams reached the Alabama state high school playoffs three times as an assistant and in both his seasons as a head coach.

Cutcliffe is married to the former Karen Oran of Harriman, Tenn., and they have three children — Chris, Katie and Emily.

The David Cutcliffe File

(numbers in parentheses indicate final season ranking in Associated Press poll)