David Cutcliffe came to Duke in December 2007 and took over a program at the bottom of the Power 5.
The Blue Devils had won two games in three years and just 10 in the previous eight seasons. Cutcliffe's rebuild took time, as Duke endured four straight losing seasons before breaking through in 2012. From that season until 2018, Duke was more than respectable, winning an ACC Coastal Division title in 2013, reaching six bowls and recording three seasons of eight or more wins.
The program backslid recently, though, going 5-18 the past two seasons with only one ACC victory. Cutcliffe on Sunday reached a mutual separation agreement with the school, ending a tenure in Durham that will undoubtedly be remembered more for its highs than lows. He finished 77-97 in 14 seasons at the school.
Duke now must try to recapture the magic that showed up in the middle section of Cutcliffe's tenure. The school promoted Nina King to athletic director in May, and she now will make her first major hire as AD.
There are some inherent obstacles at Duke, a basketball school with no conference titles in football since 1989 and just one since 1962. Duke is located in a good area for recruits but must find academically oriented players often passed over by more successful programs. The perennially wide-open Coastal Division is a plus for potential candidates.
Here's a look at whom Duke might consider to replace Cutcliffe, a list heavy with Power 5 coordinators.
Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis: He's another Power 5 coordinator with ties to the ACC, after playing wide receiver at Wake Forest. Gattis, 37, needed a breakthrough season to fuel his candidacy for Power 5 jobs and has achieved one this fall at Michigan, which advanced to its first Big Ten championship game with Saturday's win over Ohio State. He's a gifted recruiter who has worked at notable programs such as Penn State, Alabama and now Michigan. Duke football has never had a Black head coach, and Gattis is one of the top Black assistants who could be available.
Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko: The 44-year-old is ready to be a head coach and just needs the right situation. Duke could be the perfect fit. Elko landed his first Power 5 defensive coordinator role under Dave Clawson at Wake Forest, another academic-focused program in the ACC that should be the model for Duke. Elko played at Penn and has worked at other private schools such as Wake Forest and Notre Dame. Despite Texas A&M's disappointing season, his defense held up well for the most part.
Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott: I'm still surprised that Elliott isn't generating more interest in this cycle, despite a subpar season for Clemson and especially his offense. He has still been the playcaller for two national championship teams -- with two different quarterbacks -- and is one of the more accomplished assistants in the sport. He hasn't done himself favors by being so selective, and former Dabo Swinney assistants (Chad Morris, Jeff Scott) have struggled as FBS head coaches. But Duke should pursue Elliott, 42, who might be more open to a job like this than he was in the past. He knows the ACC well and brings a cerebral approach that suits Duke.
Notre Dame defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman: His stock is surging after Notre Dame's strong finish and stifling down-the-stretch defense. Freeman crushes job interviews, had one last year at Illinois and would likely win over the Duke decision-makers if given the chance. The question is whether he will hold out for a better opportunity, perhaps even as Brian Kelly's successor at Notre Dame in a few years. Freeman is only 35 and can be selective, but Duke should absolutely pursue him.
Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles: He had a direct role in Duke's most successful period under Cutcliffe, serving as Blue Devils defensive coordinator from 2010 to 2017. Knowles, 56, has made an incredible impact at Oklahoma State, a longtime offense-centric program that now wins with its defense. The Cowboys play in the Big 12 title game this week with a chance to land their first CFP spot. Knowles is considered the front-runner for the Broyles Award, given to the nation's top assistant. A concern for Duke is that Knowles' first go-round as a head coach didn't go great (26-34 at Cornell).
Army coach Jeff Monken: He's not afraid of a challenging job or recruiting a smaller pool of academic-minded players. Monken has done a masterful job at Army, going 51-24 since the start of the 2016 season. He has missed out on several similar jobs to Duke, most notably this spring with Kansas, where he finished second behind Lance Leipold. Monken, 54, would give Duke a clear identity on both sides of the ball, and has more flexibility with his offense than many think. Army could win 10 games for the third time in five seasons by beating Navy and its upcoming bowl opponent.
East Carolina coach Mike Houston: He's a strong regional candidate who has won everywhere he has been, including this season at ECU (7-5). Houston, 50, is a North Carolina native who landed his first college head-coaching job in the state at Lenoir-Rhyne, where he went 29-8 with two Division II playoff appearances. He then led The Citadel to an FCS playoff spot before winning an FCS national title with James Madison in 2016. Houston knows the area and has a lot of respect among coaches. Duke can get ahead of its ACC competitors in pursuing him now.
Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman: There are some challenges here in timing because of the NFL schedule, and Roman likely would command a big salary. But he spent two seasons under Jim Harbaugh at Stanford and might have some interest in leading a college program. He has had ups and downs in the NFL but would bring the pro experience to Duke. Roman, 49, would need to surround himself with assistants who have deep college ties, ideally to Duke and the ACC.
Dallas Cowboys defensive assistant George Edwards: Again, the NFL schedule makes it more challenging for college programs to hire pro coaches. But Edwards could be someone to watch as a former linebacker at Duke under Steve Spurrier. Edwards, 54, made several collegiate assistant stops early in his career, including at Duke in 1996, before heading to the pro ranks. He has been a defensive coordinator for three NFL teams and currently works alongside Cowboys DC Mike Nolan.
Princeton coach Bob Surace: Duke needs to be creative in its search process and ultimately find a coach who fits the school and can overcome some of the inherent obstacles there. Surace, 53, could be an interesting under-the-radar option who understands the environment at a private, elite academic school. He's 65-45 at Princeton with four Ivy League titles, including three in the past five seasons. Surace is a Pennsylvania native who has spent most of his college career in the northeast. He also brings some NFL experience as a Cincinnati Bengals assistant from 2002 to 2009. His offenses have set Ivy League records and he has been considered for national coaching awards.