# Melvin Cunningham

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**Melvin Cunningham** (born December 16, 1973) is an American former [football](/source/American_football) [defensive specialist](/source/Defensive_specialist) who played two seasons with the [Tampa Bay Storm](/source/Tampa_Bay_Storm) of the [Arena Football League](/source/Arena_Football_League) (AFL). He played [college football](/source/College_football) at [Marshall University](/source/Marshall_University). He was also a member of the [Miami Dolphins](/source/Miami_Dolphins) of the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL).[1]

## College career

Cunningham played for the [Marshall Thundering Herd](/source/Marshall_Thundering_Herd_football) from 1993 to 1996. He was an [All-American](/source/All-American) and first team All-[Southern Conference](/source/Southern_Conference) selection in 1995 and 1996. He recorded 3 interceptions, returning both for touchdowns, and 27 tackles his senior year in 1996.[2][3] The Thundering Herd won the [Division I-AA national championship](/source/NCAA_Division_I-AA_Football_Championship) in 1996.[4]

## Professional career

Cunningham signed with the [Miami Dolphins](/source/Miami_Dolphins) of the NFL on April 27, 1997 after going undrafted in the [1997 NFL draft](/source/1997_NFL_draft).[3] He was released by the Dolphins on August 12, 1997.[5]

Cunningham was signed by the AFL's [Tampa Bay Storm](/source/Tampa_Bay_Storm) during the 1999 off-season. He earned second-team [All-Arena](/source/All-Arena) honors in 1999.[6] He missed the 2000 and 2001 seasons due to injury.[7] He was placed on injured reserve on June 18, 2002. Cunningham was later placed on the injured exempt list on January 11, 2003. He was released by the Storm on November 6, 2003.[8]

## Coaching career

Cunningham was defensive backs coach of the [River Cities LocoMotives](/source/River_Cities_LocoMotives) of the [National Indoor Football League](/source/National_Indoor_Football_League) in 2001.[2]

Cunningham became [head coach](/source/Head_coach) of the [Tug Valley High School Panthers](/source/Tug_Valley_High_School#Sports) of [Mingo County, West Virginia](/source/Mingo_County,_West_Virginia) in 2000.[9] He was defensive coach for the [Burch High School Bulldogs](/source/Burch_High_School#Athletics) of [Delbarton, West Virginia](/source/Delbarton,_West_Virginia) in 2010.[citation needed] Cunningham became head coach of the [Fairland High School Dragons](/source/Fairland_High_School_(Proctorville,_Ohio)#Athletics) of [Proctorville, Ohio](/source/Proctorville,_Ohio).[9] The team went 0–10 in 2015 and 3–7 in 2016.[10][11] 2021 season finished 10–2 with a loss in Ohio HS playoffs sweet sixteen round.[12] In 2023, Cunningham resigned from his job at [Fairland](/source/Fairland_High_School_(Proctorville,_Ohio)) after he was named the [Murray High School](/source/Murray_High_School_(Kentucky)) head football coach.[13]

## References

1. ["Players"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150505010636/http://www.phins.com/personnel/droster97.June1.html). phins.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.phins.com/personnel/droster97.June1.html) on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.

1. ["Marshall Football History"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150505013949/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/mars/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/08-fb-guide-6.pdf). grfx.cstv.com. Archived from [the original](http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/mars/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/08-fb-guide-6.pdf) on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.

1. ["Apr 21, 1997: – Dolphins Get 11 More Rookies –"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150505012230/http://www.phins.com/news97/News_9704212218.html). phins.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.phins.com/news97/News_9704212218.html) on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.

1. ["Melvin Cunningham"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150505011708/http://www.galeforcedesign.com/stormshelter/players/cunningham.html). galeforcedesign.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.galeforcedesign.com/stormshelter/players/cunningham.html) on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.

1. ["Aug 12, 1997: – Nedney, Chris Gray and 5 Others Released –"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150505012224/http://www.phins.com/news97/News_9708121409.html). phins.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.phins.com/news97/News_9708121409.html) on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.

1. ["Melvin Cunningham"](http://www.arenafan.com/players/?page=players&player=1964&pageview=bio). arenafan.com. Retrieved May 4, 2015.

1. ["To Melvin Cunningham"](https://web.archive.org/web/20030330124710/http://www.arenafan.com/news/?page=origcol&article=958). arenafan.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.arenafan.com/news/?page=origcol&article=958) on March 30, 2003. Retrieved January 2, 2015.

1. ["Historical Team Transactions"](http://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=transactions&type=old&team=12). arenafan.com. Retrieved May 4, 2015.

1. Walker, Jim (February 1, 2015). ["Fairland hires Cunningham as new head football coach"](http://www.irontontribune.com/2015/02/01/fairland-hires-cunningham-as-new-head-football-coach/). irontontribune.com. Retrieved October 28, 2015.

1. ["Fairland Dragons"](https://web.archive.org/web/20151204194859/http://www.joeeitel.com/hsfoot/teams.jsp?year=2015&teamID=556). joeeitel.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.joeeitel.com/hsfoot/teams.jsp?year=2015&teamID=556) on December 4, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.

1. ["2016 Fairland Owls Football Schedule"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170227220757/https://rockyprep.com/oklahoma/team/fairland_ok/2016). rockyprep.com. Archived from [the original](https://rockyprep.com/oklahoma/team/fairland_ok/2016) on February 27, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2017.

1. Stephens, Tim (2021-11-14). ["Roughriders rough up dragons 33 -8"](https://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/roughriders-rough-up-dragons-33-8/article_f29f88b1-a5ab-5c50-97c1-5ac39cf7a669.html). *Herald Dispatch*

1. ["Melvin Cunningham Named Murray High School Head Football Coach"](https://www.murray.kyschools.us/news/1765384/melvin-cunningham-named-murray-high-school-head-football-coach). *www.murray.kyschools.us*. Retrieved 2023-07-02.

## External links

- [Stats Crew profile](http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=cunnimel001)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Melvin Cunningham](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melvin_Cunningham) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melvin_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.