Duke Blue Devils Head Coach Named 2012 NC Beautiful Golf Classic Honorary Chair

RALEIGH, NC, July 18, 2012 (Press-News.org) NC Beautiful has announced that David Cutcliffe will serve as Honorary Chair of the 27th NC Beautiful Golf Classic. The environmental non-profit's fundraiser will be held from July 20-22 at Pinehurst Resort & Spa, one of the world's finest golf resorts located among the Sandhills of North Carolina. Cutcliffe is the Head Coach of the Duke Blue Devils football team.

NC Beautiful Executive Director, Steve Vacendak, considers Cutcliffe one of the nation's most accomplished football coaches and says that his presence will add a great deal of excitement to the event. "We're honored that David will be lending his name to help us raise awareness for our event, as well as draw attention to the importance of perpetuating the natural beauty of North Carolina," says Vacendak.

Cutcliffe, who led Ole Miss to four bowl games in six seasons and mentored Super Bowl MVP quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, was named Duke University's 21st head football coach on December 15, 2007. Cutcliffe has guided Duke to 15 victories in his first four years with the Blue Devils—five more than the program's total in the previous eight seasons (2000-07) combined. In his four seasons in Durham, four Blue Devils— linebacker Michael Tauiliili (2008), defensive tackle Vince Oghobaase (2009), kicker Will Snyderwine (2010) and safety Matt Daniels (2011)—have earned All-America honors.

A native of Birmingham, AL, Cutcliffe came to Duke after serving the previous two seasons as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee. His head coaching experience includes a six-year stint at the University of Mississippi from 1999-04 where he compiled a 44-29 (.603) ledger with five winning seasons, five bowl game appearances and a share of the SEC Western Division championship in 2003. Cutcliffe was named the SEC Coach of the Year in 2003 after leading the Rebels to a 10-3 record including a 31-28 victory over Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl.

Cutcliffe, who spent 19 total seasons on the staff at Tennessee and helped the Vols to a 173-54-7 record including the 1998 national championship, has participated in 22 bowl games including the 1982 Peach, 1983 Florida Citrus, 1984 Sun, 1986 Sugar, 1986 Liberty, 1988 Peach, 1990 Cotton, 1991 Sugar, 1992 Fiesta, 1993 Hall of Fame, 1994 Florida Citrus, 1994 Gator, 1996 Florida Citrus, 1997 Florida Citrus, 1998 Orange, 1998 Independence, 1999 Independence, 2000 Music City, 2002 Independence, 2004 Cotton, 2007 Outback and 2008 Outback. He owns a 4-1 (.800) record as a head coach in bowl tilts with victories over Oklahoma, Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.

"I am flattered and privileged to serve as the Honorary Chair of the 2012 NC Beautiful Golf Classic," says Cutcliffe. "One of the life lessons I was taught at a young age by my parents is to leave a place better than you found it. It is one I have never forgotten and use each and every day. We have a responsibility to those who will walk this land many years after we have passed and without question, NC Beautiful plays a significant role with our environment."

Chartered in 1967, NC Beautiful was created as part of Governor Dan K. Moore's pledge to emphasize preserving the state's physical beauty. The goal behind Governor Moore's vision was to use the gifts North Carolina was blessed with—its natural resources, scenery, climate, and physical variety—to provide economic and quality of life benefits for the people of North Carolina. That vision became NC Beautiful's mission.

For over 40 years, NC Beautiful has played an important role in the state's environmental education and supporting organizations in their beautification efforts. With such programs as the Annual Azalea Celebration and the Windows of Opportunity Grants, the organization is helping North Carolinians keep NC Beautiful.

For more information about NC Beautiful, call (919) 828-3190 or visit http://www.ncbeautiful.org.

About NC Beautiful
NC Beautiful has been part of the state's environmental preservation community for over 40 years, supporting awareness, education and beautification efforts that affect our quality of life. Today, we concentrate on hands-on and merit-based programs designed to empower our citizens to preserve the natural beauty of the state of North Carolina. Whether it's school children building outdoor classrooms, graduate students developing cutting edge research, or a Boy Scout troop planting azaleas at an elder care facility, we make it possible for North Carolinians to keep NC Beautiful. For more information, visit http://www.ncbeautiful.org.

Media Contacts
Steve Vacendak, Executive Director
NC Beautiful
(919) 828-3190
svacendak@ncbeautiful.org

Louise Carey, Programs Manager
NC Beautiful
(919) 828-3190
lcarey@ncbeautiful.org

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