APPLETON, Wis. — Chris Cunningham has joined the Lawrence University football coaching staff, Vikings head coach Rob McCarthy announced today.
Cunningham will coach the defensive line, McCarthy said.
“I’m extremely excited about the opportunity to help bring the Lawrence football program back to dominance,” Cunningham said. “We have tremendous support from our administration with the stadium renovation in progress, and I’m working with fellow coaches who have a passion for our student-athletes to be great on and off of the field. I’m truly excited to be a part of the Viking family.”
Cunningham comes to Lawrence from the University of Pikeville, where he has worked for the past year. At Pikeville, a NAIA school located in Kentucky, Cunningham served as the linebackers/special teams coach and head academic coordinator.
“Chris’ playing and coaching background makes him a great addition to our defense,” McCarthy said. “His enthusiasm and proven record as a recruiter makes him a great addition to the staff and his high character and passion for teaching makes him a great addition to the Lawrence community.”
A native of Miami, Fla., Cunningham is a graduate of Dade Christian School where he was a two-time all-county and all-state football selection. He attended Eastern Kentucky University and earned a bachelor’s degree in sport management. A football player at Eastern Kentucky, Cunningham played defensive end and linebacker for the Colonels and helped them win an Ohio Valley Conference championship in 2008.
A 2011 graduate of Eastern Kentucky, Cunningham was named a Colonel Scholar-Athlete for three consecutive years and was selected multiple times for the Dean’s List.
Cunningham remained at Eastern Kentucky, which competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, and worked as a student assistant coach for the 2011 Ohio Valley Conference champions.
For the next two seasons, Cunningham served as a graduate assistant coach and guided the defensive backs. Cunningham, who earned his master’s degree in sports administration from Eastern Kentucky in 2014, coached a pair of All-Ohio Valley Conference defensive backs.
Lawrence opens its season on Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl on Sept. 5 when the Vikings host Rockford University.