Under Cutcliffe, in 2012 the Blue Devils ended an 18-year bowl drought and also brought the Victory Bell back to Duke after beating arch-rival University of North Carolina.

He also helped groom Heath Shuler and future Super Bowl MVP and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, serving as their position coach.

On December 2, 1998, Cutcliffe was hired as the head football coach at Ole Miss after Tommy Tuberville left for Auburn.

Boone had asked Cutcliffe to fire some assistant coaches and provide a detailed plan for improving the program, specifically the defense and recruiting.

[9] Cutcliffe was hired as the head football coach at Duke University on December 14, 2007,[10] replacing Ted Roof, who had amassed a 4–42 win–loss record (1–31 in the ACC) over four years at the school.

Duke proceeded to lose to Georgia Tech and Miami before notching its first road win of the season, a 10–7 victory over SEC opponent Vanderbilt.

Next, on the road at Wake Forest, Duke lost in overtime, 33–30, missing what would have been a game-winning field goal at the end of regulation.

This was another in a string of such painful kicking miscues for the Blue Devils, including a miss at North Carolina in the previous season.

But before Tennessee’s hiring process comes to a conclusion, I know that Duke University is where we want to coach.”[19] Cutcliffe's decision was widely lauded as a rare example of commitment and integrity among prominent college football coaches.

The Blue Devils appeared poised to win their first bowl game in 51 years after building a 16-0 lead against the Big East Conference co-champion Cincinnati Bearcats.

On November 29, with a close 27–25 win over North Carolina, the Blue Devils clinched their first-ever Coastal Division title, as well as the first 10-win season in their over 100-year football history.

They also garnered a berth in the 2013 ACC Championship Game falling to the eventual National Champion Florida State Seminoles and Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston 45-7.

Duke's historic 2013 season concluded on New Year's Eve in Atlanta, GA, at the Chick-fil-A Bowl against the Texas A&M Aggies, led by 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel.

Duke won a double-overtime thriller on the road at Pittsburgh, 51-48, where wide receiver Jamison Crowder caught 9 passes for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Following a 27-10 victory over Syracuse in the Carrier Dome, Duke entered their week 11 matchup against Virginia Tech at home ranked #19 in the nation.

Following these accomplishments, the Blue Devils lost four straight games, including a 35-point loss to North Carolina on the road.

On November 28, 2021, it was announced that Cutcliffe and Duke University had agreed to mutually part ways following three straight losing seasons.

[26] Cutcliffe released the following statement: "After some detailed and amiable discussions with Nina King, we've mutually decided that it is the right time for change in the leadership of Duke Football.