Report: Duke paid David Cutcliffe nearly $4.4 million in severance in 2022

David Cutcliffe has not been the Duke head coach since the 2021 season, moving on from one another after a 3-9 season. He completely moved on from the program and held other roles in college athletics, most recently with the SEC. Duke still sent Cutcliffe a nice chunk of change the following year, though.

According to Steve Berkowitz of the USA TODAY, Cutcliffe received around $4.4 million in severance from Duke in 2022. In an era where college football buyouts are well over $50 million at times, not a bad deal for the Blue Devils.

You have to imagine Cutcliffe is complaining either. After all, the best job out there might be a fired college football head coach, collecting paychecks to do nothing.

“Duke’s new tax record also shows that in 2022, former football coach David Cutcliffe received nearly $4.4 million in severance,” Berkowitz said via X. “(In late November 2021, school announced that he and Duke had ‘reached a mutual agreement for separation.’)”

Cutcliffe spent 14 seasons in Durham, bringing success to the program for the first time in around two decades. Making the Belk Bowl in 2012 was the Blue Devils’ first postseason appearance since 1994. However, they still finished under .500 after a 6-6 regular season record and losing the bowl game.

The following season was the high point, reaching 10 wins and finally having a winning season at Duke. Earning double-digit victories was something the Blue Devils had never accomplished and are still searching for today. Cutcliffe finished the year 10-4 with an ACC Championship game appearance — still the only one in school history — and a spot in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Four straight bowl appearances is also something only Cutliffe has accomplished. The end of his tenure with the program may have been rough but the consistency was there for around seven seasons.

The time to split was the right one and Duke instantly found success after hiring Mike Elko away from Texas A&M. administration was paying for Elko’s salary in 2022, resulting in a 9-4 season. They also still had Cutcliffe on the payroll for around $4.4 million.

Since Duke is a private university, all of this information is just now being reported on. Same reason why Manny Diaz‘s salary has not been revealed as the new Duke head coach. Elko left and returned to College Station but this time, as the head coach.