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Russ Cunningham
Russ Cunningham

Position:
Head Coach
Experience:
2nd Season
Alma Mater:
Campbell University, 1993 and '96



04/24/2013

Komma Leads Oakland at The Summit League Championship

The junior posted a final round 79 to finish in a tie for 10th place.

04/24/2013

OU's Bowser Finishes Top 10 at The Summit League Championship

The freshman shot 8-over-par to end the tourney in a tie for sixth place.

04/23/2013

Golden Grizzlies Climb Standings at The Summit League Championship

OU stands in a tie for 5th place heading into final round.

04/22/2013

Oakland Fifth at The Summit League Women's Golf Championship

The Golden Grizzlies trail fourth by six shots.

04/21/2013

Gerber and Komma Named All-Summit League

Both rank inside the top six in the league in scoring average.

04/19/2013

Student and Spirit Honors

April 18, 2013 marked the annual Graduates and Champions banquet at the O'rena. Neal Ruhl interviews some of the honorees and coaches.

03/09/2012

Coach Cunningham.

Head Coach Russ Cunningham discusses upcoming tournament at Jackrabbit Invitational.

03/01/2012

Red Rocks Invitational

Head Coach Russ Cunningham preview of Red Rocks Invitational

04/10/2012

Oakland Wins Detroit Titans Invitational

Golden Grizzlies defeated the Titans by 4 shots.

Cunningham's Golf Results
from 2000-10
2010
Recognized as GAM Golfer of the Decade, T2 Horton Smith Championship, Won Michigan Publinx Links Match Play, GAM Honor Roll for 8th time in 11 years
2009
T2 GAM Championship, T1 Michigan Mid-Amateur losing in playoff, made GAM Honor Roll for 7th time in 10 years
2008
Injured hand (ruptured tendon in February, Semifinals of Michigan Publinx Match Play Championship, T5 Michigan Mid-Amateur Championship
2007
Qualified for USGA Public Links Championship, Won Michigan Publinx Links Match Play Title, 8th in the GAM Championship and invited to represent Michigan in the USGA State Team Championship, made Honor Roll
2006
T16th at GAM Championship, T10 Michigan Mid-Amateur Championship
2005
2nd Place in Michigan Publinx Match Play Championship, T14 Michigan Mid-Amateur Championship
2004
3rd at Syron Memorial, Won Michigan Publinx Links Match Play Title, 15th at GAM Championship, Won Michigan Mid-Amateur for the third time in four years. Only player to make the GAM Honor Roll five consecutive years.
2003
5th at Lee Gohs Championship, Semifinals of Michigan Amateur Championship, Won Syron Memorial, 10th at GAM Championship, Alternate for USGA Publinx, Qualified for USGA Mid-Amateur, 4th in Michigan Mid-Amateur, Represented Michigan in USGA State Team Championship, Runner-up for GAM Player of the Year marking four years in a row on GAM Honor Roll.
2002
Won Lee Gohs (formerly MI Publinx Medal Play Championship), Quarter Finals of MI Am, Qualified for U.S.G.A. Publinx L-1st round, Qualified for U.S.G.A. AM L-1st round, 5th at Syron Memorial, Won GAM Championship, Alternate for U.S.G.A. Mid-Am, Won MI Mid-Am title-1st ever repeat winner, GAM Player of the Year.
2001
Played in British Amateur, 15th at GAM Championship, Qualified for USGA Mid-Amateur Championship advancing to 2nd round, Won Michigan Mid-Amateur Title, GAM Honor Roll.
2000
Qualified into Sectionals for U.S. Open as well as the Western Amateur and U.S.G.A. Amateur, Qualified for U.S.G.A. Mid-Amateur advancing to 2nd round of match play, 15th Michigan Mid-Amateur, Golf Association of Michigan Honor Roll.

Russ Cunningham enters his second season as head golf coach of both the men's and women's teams. Cunningham was named Golf Association of Michigan Amateur Golfer of the Decade in 2010.

In his first season as head coach, Cunningham led the women's team to a pair of tournament titles at the Cleveland State Invitational (Fall 2011) and Detroit Titans Invitational (Spring 2012). He also tutored Liz Ecker who set school records in events played (12), rounds played (30), low round (68/-5), low 36-hole score (140 at Detroit Titals Fall Classic) and rounds under par (3). Ecker finished her career with the lowest stroke average of 79.05.

Four players went on to earn Academic All-Summit League honors and Ecker, Alanna Gerber, Mara Kovac garnered NGCA All-American Scholar Team accolades.

Prior to taking over at Oakland, Cunningham spent over five years at Michigan State (1996-99) and Campbell (1993-95) in Buies Creek, N.C. He was assistant men's golf coach at MSU and assistant men's and women's golf coach at Campbell.

At Michigan State, Cunningham assisted with all parts of the golf program and helped lower the Spartans' scoring average by 15 shots and the team grade point average improved from a 2.3 to a 2.9 in two-and-a-half years. The Spartans also went from last at the Big Ten Championship to leading after 39 holes in 1998, finishing sixth.

While at Campbell, Cunningham led the Camels to multiple conference championships on both the men's and women's sides. Maria Combes qualified for the 1995 NCAA Regional Championship and Cunningham tutored eight players that garnered all-league honors. Eight CU golfers earned Academic All-League accolades and Dave Mathis, who he played with and coached, competed on the PGA Tour. He worked under 1967 USGA Junior Champion and NGCA Hall of Fame Inductee John Crooks.

Cunningham began his own consulting company in 2001 called RJC Ventures. There he provided services for mid-size businesses, non-profit organizations and golf and hospitality industries. Most recently he served as president of Associated Builders and Contractors of Central Michigan from 2008-10.

A graduate of Campbell University, Cunningham earned All-Big South honors in 1992 and `93 while leading the Camels to consecutive Big South Conference championships. He earned a master's degree in exercise science (1996) and a bachelor's degree in sports management (1993).

Cunningham continues to be one of the top golfers in the state of Michigan and has nine tournament victories statewide, with his most recent triumph coming at the 2010 Michigan Publinx Match Play Championship.

A native of Iona, Mich., Cunningham resides in DeWitt, Mich. with his wife, Michele, and two daughters, McKenna (15) and Madison (12).

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