David Cutcliffe is healthy and ready to coach again.

The former Tennessee assistant coach said Tuesday he has been cleared by his doctors to resume work after lingering effects of a triple bypass heart surgery performed March 9.

"That's a good feeling, believe me," said Cutcliffe, who resigned as Notre Dame's quarterbacks coach in June citing health concerns. "To make that step in the right direction, that's really a good feeling."

Where Cutcliffe will coach is the question. A source within the program told the News Sentinel that the 51-year old is the leading candidate to replace Randy Sanders as UT's offensive coordinator if another school doesn't offer Cutcliffe a head coaching position. On Monday, Sanders stepped down and will finish the season as quarterbacks coach for the struggling Vols (3-4).

Cutcliffe has long said he would prefer to return as a head coach.

"I've done a good job of using this time," he said. "I'm so much better than what I was before.

"I'm just cranked up, wanting to do it (be a head coach), put some people together and go win some football games."

Cutcliffe said he has not received an offer from the Vols and UT coach Phillip Fulmer said Tuesday he had not talked to Cutcliffe yet about the job.

"You don't close the door on anything," Cutcliffe said. "I don't know even if there is going to be any other opportunities."

Cutcliffe said he has received feelers from other schools but nothing firm and has sent feelers to other schools. Cutcliffe said he would expect interest soon if he is a serious candidate for any potential job openings.

Then he can make his decision.

"That'll happen pretty quickly," Cutcliffe said. "If you don't get much feedback now, then you can bet you're not in the mix."

For now, Cutcliffe said he is more focused on being a friend to the UT program than being a candidate to replace Sanders.

Cutcliffe has had frequent talks with Sanders and head coach Phillip Fulmer.

"Everybody is doing all this speculating and that's all it is," he said. "My role is to just be a friend. I visited with Randy and Phillip to just be a friend.

"I'm not going to speculate on the future. Who knows what the future brings?"

Cutcliffe said he can sympathize with the scrutiny Sanders was under before his resignation. He was fired from Ole Miss after the Rebels finished 4-7 last season amid plenty of criticism. Cutcliffe said he was even forced to take steps to protect his 4-year old from being picked on at preschool.

Cutcliffe said he, like Sanders, considered leaving coaching after being fired from Ole Miss.

Now, Cutcliffe seems ready to find his last home, coaching and otherwise.

"I'm to the stage now where finishing some place is important because of family and other issues," he said. "You want to win a championship.

"You want to complete a job."