The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Kent State
Former Men's Basketball Coach Kenneth G. Cunningham Passes Away
February 10 | Men's Basketball
AKRON, Ohio – Former University of Akron men's basketball coach Kenneth G. "Coach" Cunningham passed away on Monday at the age of 71.
Cunningham coached the Zips for four seasons after being hired in 1976. He posted a 42-61 record and was the last coach for the Zips as a Division II program. Cunningham was a key part in helping the Akron program make the jump to the Division I level and entering the Ohio Valley Conference.
"I have known Ken Cunningham for many years and was saddened to hear about his passing," men's basketball head coach Keith Dambrot said. "I have a lot of respect for him as he took many bumps and bruises during our program's transition to Division I basketball. His hard work and dedication helped set the groundwork for the success of our program, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family."
Cunningham was a three-sport athlete at East Liverpool High School and was named the Ohio High School Basketball AA (big school) Player of the Year in 1961. He went on to play basketball at The University of Cincinnati where he played in the Final Four as a sophomore in 1963, as the Bearcats were going for a third-consecutive NCAA championship. UC fell 60-58 to Loyola University Chicago in the National Title Game.
Cunningham began his coaching career in 1965 as a graduate assistant at Kent State University. He then served as an assistant coach at Kent Roosevelt for two seasons and then as the head coach at Solon High School for the 1968-69 season at the age of 25.
In 1969, Cunningham joined the basketball staff at the University of Cincinnati for seven years, reaching two NIT tournaments and two NCAA tournaments. After coaching the Zips from 1976-80, he finished his coaching career as the head coach at Northwest High School in Canal Fulton during the 1980-81 season.
Cunningham is survived by his former wife, Judy Walker, his sons, Kenneth (Jeanie), Tom, and Mathew (Christine) Cunningham; two foster sons, David and John; seven grandchildren, Carson, Kenny, Grant, Carly, Owen, Kate, and Finley; and his beloved sister, Janie Smith.
Cunningham will be honored with a moment of silence prior to tonight's UA men's basketball game versus Kent State scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at Rhodes Arena.
