# Carson Cunningham > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Carson_Cunningham > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Carson_Cunningham.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carson_Cunningham > Source revision: 1351199096 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Carson Cunningham** (born June 7, 1977) is an American [basketball](/source/Basketball) coach and author who is currently an assistant coach for the [Missouri State Bears basketball team](/source/Missouri_State_Bears_basketball). He is the former head coach of the [Incarnate Word Cardinals men's basketball](/source/Incarnate_Word_Cardinals_men's_basketball) team.[1][2] ## Playing career Cunningham was a standout basketball player at [Andrean High School](/source/Andrean_High_School) in [Merrillville, Indiana](/source/Merrillville,_Indiana), where he was a four-year letterwinner and a three-time first team all-area selection, as well as first team all-state selection and [USA Today](/source/USA_Today_All-USA_high_school_basketball_team) honorable mention All-American as a senior.[3] Playing his freshman season of college basketball at [Oregon State](/source/Oregon_State_Beavers_men's_basketball), Cunningham averaged 14.9 points per game, earning a place on the 1997 [Pacific 10](/source/Pac-12_Conference) All-Freshman team.[4] Cunningham would transfer back to the state of Indiana, enrolling at [Purdue](/source/Purdue_Boilermakers_men's_basketball) to play under [Gene Keady](/source/Gene_Keady) and was part of the Boilermakers [1999](/source/1999_NCAA_Division_I_men's_basketball_tournament) Sweet 16 and [2000](/source/2000_NCAA_Division_I_men's_basketball_tournament) Elite Eight squads. Upon graduation, Cunningham played in the [Continental Basketball Association](/source/Continental_Basketball_Association) for the [Gary Steelheads](/source/Gary_Steelheads) and [Rockford Lightning](/source/Rockford_Lightning) from 2001 to 2005, while also playing abroad in [Australia](/source/National_Basketball_League_(Australia)) and Estonia.[5] While in Estonia, he led his club ([Kalev/Cramo](/source/BC_Kalev) in scoring (21.5 ppg) and assists (4.8 apg).[6] ## Coaching career Cunningham got his start in coaching at the high school ranks, taking the helm of his alma mater, Andrean High School for five seasons, where he compiled an 81–39 record, winning four sectional championships before accepting the head coaching position at [NAIA](/source/National_Association_of_Intercollegiate_Athletics) institution [Carroll College](/source/Carroll_College) in Montana.[7] At Carroll, Cunningham inherited a Fighting Saints team that had won just two games, and in five seasons amassed a 107–52 record, including three-straight 20-win seasons, and two [Frontier Conference](/source/Frontier_Conference) men's basketball regular season and tournament titles, along with three trips to [NAIA Men's Basketball Championships](/source/NAIA_Men's_Basketball_Championships), and two quarterfinal appearances.[8] Cunningham was named head coach at [NCAA Division I](/source/NCAA_Division_I) institution [Incarnate Word](/source/University_of_the_Incarnate_Word) on March 22, 2018.[1] Following five straight losing seasons as head coach, Incarnate Word fired Cunningham in 2023.[9] After his dismissal from Incarnate Word, Cunningham became an assistant coach for the [Army Black Knights basketball team](/source/Army_Black_Knights_men's_basketball).[10] On May 1, 2024, Cunningham was named an assistant coach for the [Missouri State Bears basketball team](/source/Missouri_State_Bears_basketball).[11] ## Published works Cunningham is the author of five books, which range from fiction to non-fiction on topics such as Olympic basketball, his experiences in the CBA, athletes who died in combat, the [Chicago Cubs](/source/Chicago_Cubs), and modern reimagining of [Huckleberry Finn](/source/Huckleberry_Finn).[5][12][13][14] ## References 1. ["UIW Athletics Tabs Cunningham as Men's Basketball Head Coach – University of the Incarnate Word"](https://www.cardinalathletics.com/news/2018/3/22/uiw-athletics-tabs-cunningham-as-mens-basketball-head-coach.aspx). *University of the Incarnate Word*. March 22, 2018. 1. ["Carson Cunningham Coaching Record"](https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/coaches/carson-cunningham-1.html). *College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com* 1. ["Carson Cunningham Bio :: Purdue University :: Official Athletic Site"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180323154942/http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/carson_cunningham_13413.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/carson_cunningham_13413.html) on March 23, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2018. 1. ["Carson Cunningham College Stats - College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com"](https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/carson-cunningham-1.html). *College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com* 1. ["Carroll College Athletics – 2015–16 Men's Basketball Coaching Staff"](http://carrollathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=35). *carrollathletics.com* 1. ["BC Kalev/Cramo Roster, Schedule, Stats (2024-2025)"](https://www.proballers.com/basketball/team/760/bc-kalev-cramo). *Proballers* 1. Hanlon, Steve (May 21, 2013). ["Andrean's Cunningham hired to coach at Montana college"](http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-school/boys-basketball/andrean-s-cunningham-hired-to-coach-at-montana-college/article_2986845d-e09f-5661-aa81-4a473c01f977.html) 1. ["Carroll Men Capture Second Straight Frontier Conference Tournament Crown"](http://frontierconference.com/news/2018/3/6/basketball-carroll-men-capture-second-straight-frontier-conference-tournament-crown.aspx?path=mbball). 5 March 2018. 1. Luca, Greg. ["UIW fires coach Carson Cunningham after five seasons"](https://www.expressnews.com/sports/colleges/utsa/article/uiw-fires-carson-cunningham-17891700.php). *San Antonio Express-News* 1. ["Head Coach Kevin Kuwik Announces Men's Basketball Staff"](https://goarmywestpoint.com/news/2023/6/7/head-coach-kevin-kuwik-announces-mens-basketball-staff.aspx) 1. ["Martin Announces Coaching Staff Additions"](https://missouristatebears.com/news/2024/5/1/mens-basketball-martin-announces-coaching-staff-additions.aspx) 1. ["Carroll College coach pens book to honor athletes who died for their country"](http://406mtsports.com/college/frontier-conference/carroll-college/carroll-college-coach-pens-book-to-honor-athletes-who-died/article_e7cb0260-9a94-56bd-a025-adb3f265685f.html). 25 October 2017. 1. Nieto, Mike (23 September 2014). ["WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: Cunningham authors another book"](http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-school/boys-basketball/where-are-they-now-cunningham-authors-another-book/article_41c3ea58-4323-5c08-9f05-a4986d053d49.html) 1. ["Carson Cunningham – Diversion Books"](http://www.diversionbooks.com/authors/carson-cunningham/). *www.diversionbooks.com* --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Carson Cunningham](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carson_Cunningham) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carson_Cunningham?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.