Charles Cunningham, who has coached nearly 30 years at both the high school and college levels, is in his fifth season as an assistant at Duquesne University.
The 53-year-old Alabama native spent a decade as a high school coach in his home state and also served as an assistant at UNLV (2000-01), Minnesota (1996-99), Arkansas State (1995-96), Missouri State (1992-95), Western Kentucky (1988-92) and Murray State (1986-88) prior to coming to Duquesne.
While at Minnesota, Cunningham was part of the Gophers[apos] 1997 NCAA Tournament Final Four squad. He also accompanied the team to another NCAA appearance in 1999. Cunningham helped recruit and coach a number of prominent Gophers, including current and former NBA players Bobby Jackson, Sam Jacobson, Quincy Lewis and Joel Przybilla.
Cunningham began his college coaching career at Murray State, where he helped the Racers to the 1988 NCAA Tournament. The 14th-seeded Racers, led by future NBA player Popeye Jones, upset No. 3 seed North Carolina State before falling to No. 6 Kansas, 61-58, in the second round.
After the 1988 campaign, Cunningham moved on to Western Kentucky where he spent four seasons as an assistant - his last two under current Holy Cross head coach Ralph Willard. Following the 1994-95 season, he accepted an assistant spot at Missouri State (formerly Southwest Missouri State) where he stayed for three years. He then coached one season at Arkansas State before heading to Minneapolis prior to the 1996-97 season. Cunningham moved over to the administrative side of things prior to the 1998-99 campaign when he served as the assistant athletic director for basketball operations at Minnesota.
Following his graduation from Kirksey High School in Aliceville, Ala., Cunningham moved on to Snead Junior College in Boaz, Ala. where he was a two-year starter on the basketball team. He continued his playing career at North Alabama (then Florence State), where he was a two-year letterman and all-conference pick as a senior. He graduated from North Alabama in 1973 with a bachelor[apos]s degree in physical education and history, and went on to earn a master[apos]s degree in education in 1975. He added an education specialist for secondary education degree in 1981, and was inducted into the UNA Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998.
Cunningham spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at his alma mater before taking a full-time job as an assistant coach at Bradshaw High School in Florence, Ala. He was there eight seasons before taking over as head coach. He remained in that position until 1986 when he joined the staff at Murray State.
Cunningham has three children: daughter, Robin, and sons, Damone and Derrick, and resides in Pittsburgh.
Â
THE CHARLES CUNNINGHAM FILE
Birthdate: April 25, 1952
Age: 53
Hometown: Aliceville, Ala
High School: Kirksey H.S. (Aliceville, Ala.)
College: North Alabama (`73)
Degree: physical education/history
education specialist for secondary education (`81)
Graduate Degree: education from North Alabama `75
Family: Daughter: Robin; Sons: Damone and Derrick
NCAA TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE
1998-99 Minnesota Asst. AD/BK 1st Round 1996-97 Minnesota Asst. Coach Final Four 1986-88 Murray State Asst. Coach 2nd Round
NIT EXPERIENCE
1997-98 Minnesota - NIT Champions Asst. Coach 1992-93 Missouri State Asst. Coach 1991-92 Western Kentucky Asst. Coach
COLLEGE COACHING EXPERIENCE
2001- Assistant Coach (3) Duquesne 2000-01 Assistant Coach (1) UNLV 1998-99 Asst. AD/Basketball Operations (1) Minnesota 1996-98 Assistant Coach (2) Minnesota 1995-96 Assistant Coach (1) Arkansas State 1992-95 Assistant Coach (3) Missouri State 1988-92 Assistant Coach (4) Western Kentucky 1986-88 Assistant Coach (2) Murray State years at position listed in parentheses
PROMINENT PLAYERS RECRUITED AND/OR COACHED
Bobby Jackson Minnesota Sam Jacobson Minnesota Quincy Lewis Minnesota Joel Przybilla Minnesota John Thomas Minnesota Chico Fletcher Arkansas State Darnell Mee Western Kentucky Chris Robinson Western Kentucky Popeye Jones Murray State
