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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Cheatham Named Assistant Athletics Director For Football Operations
8/1/2003 | Football
Aug. 1, 2003
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss Head Football Coach David Cutcliffe announced Friday the hiring of Steve Cheatham as Assistant Athletic Director for Football Operations, effective immediately.
Cheatham replaces Gerry Dickey, who recently resigned to accept a similar position with the University of Tennessee after spending the last four years as a member of Cutcliffe's staff.
"I want to publicly thank Gerry Dickey for the outstanding job he has done for Ole Miss football," Cutcliffe said. "We wish him well with his future endeavors at Tennessee."
Cutcliffe said he was "extremely excited" about the addition of Cheatham.
"Steve has an extensive background in football in the State of Mississippi," Cutcliffe said. "He is well respected by his peers and is an excellent addition to our staff."
Cheatham comes to Ole Miss after spending the past two years as an assistant coach at East Central (Miss.) Community College.
Cheatham started his coaching career as the defensive coordinator and special teams coach at Neshoba High School, before moving on to serve as a graduate assistant with Clemson University in 1993. At Clemson he worked with the secondary under the supervision of the defensive coordinator.
After three years at Clemson, he moved west to Alabama in 1996, taking the head coaching position at Dothan High School for a season before moving back to Mississippi to become the head coach at Philadelphia High School. In his time at Philadelphia, Cheatham compiled a 36-11-1 record. In 2001 he jumped to the junior college ranks at East Central Community College as an assistant coach.
"I'm excited about working for Coach Cutcliffe and this football staff," said Cheatham. "I have a lot of respect for Coach Cutcliffe and the job he is doing here at Ole Miss. I am happy to be a part of this program."
Cheatham is a member of the American Football Coaches Association, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Mississippi Association of Coaches. He has earned several awards throughout his career, including the 1998 Division 4-2A Coach of the Year and the 2000 Neshoba Democrat Area Coach of the Year. He has also coached in several All-Star games, including the 2000 Bernard Blackwell All-Star game, the 2001 Mississippi/Alabama All-Star game, and the 2002 Mississippi Community College All-Star game.
Cheatham received a bachelor's degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from Mississippi State University and a master's degree in Secondary Guidance and Counseling from Clemson University.
Cheatham, 46, is married to the former Brenda Munn of Philadelphia. They have a 20-year-old daughter, Lindsey, who will be attending the University of Mississippi Medical Center this fall, and is pursuing a degree in Dental Hygiene.
