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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Cutcliffe Signs Contract Extension With Ole Miss
8/13/2002 | Football
Aug. 13, 2002
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss Athletics Director Pete Boone announced Tuesday that head football coach David Cutcliffe has signed a contract extension through January of 2006. The contract has been approved by Chancellor Robert Khayat and the Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning.
"Ole Miss has been very blessed to have David and Karen Cutcliffe as part of its family the past four years," Boone said. "This new contract expresses our mutual commitment to continue that relationship for the next four years. I feel fortunate to be able to work together with David for many years to come."
Cutcliffe, who became The University of Mississippi's 34th head coach on December 2, 1998, and then helped lead the Rebels to a 35-18 victory over Texas Tech in the 1998 Independence Bowl, has guided Ole Miss to a 23-13 record and to bowl berths in two of his first three full seasons at the helm.
"I feel fortunate to be a part of the Ole Miss family," Cutcliffe said. "This agreement allows us to continue developing our long-term goals for the football program. I appreciate our administration's continued leadership and support."
Heading into the 2002 season, Ole Miss has recorded more wins (22) and the best winning percentage (.629) than any other Southeastern Conference Western Division school since Cutcliffe's first full season in 1999. Following last year's 7-4 mark, Cutcliffe joined Harry J. Mehre (1938-1945) as the only coaches in school history to win at least seven games in each of their first three years at Ole Miss.
Since Cutcliffe was named head coach, interest in the Ole Miss football program has reached record heights. The recent Vaught-Hemingway Stadium expansion has pushed capacity to over 60,000 and Ole Miss fans continue to shatter previous season ticket records. At last count, Ole Miss fans have purchased almost 44,000 season tickets for the 2002 season.
