Assistant coach Charles Cunningham enters his second season with the Trojans in 2009-10, bringing with him a wealth of coaching experience which includes 20 years at the Division I level and six postseason appearances.

Prior to joining the Trojans for the 2008-09 season, Cunningham most recently served as an assistant coach at South Florida during the 2006-07 season. Over the course of his career, Cunningham has made stops at Duquesne, UNLV, Minnesota, Arkansas State, Missouri State, Western Kentucky and Murray State.

During his time at Minnesota (1996-99), Cunnigham helped guide the Gophers to three consecutive postseason berths, including a Final Four appearance in 1997 and a National Invitation Tournament championship in 1998. He spent the 1998-99 season as an Assistant Athletic Director for Men’s Basketball Operations and helped the Gophers return to the NCAA Tournament.

Cunningham has worked with a number of student-athletes who have advanced into the professional ranks, including NBA players Bobby Jackson, Joel Pryzbilla and John Thomas. He also helped to develop former NBA player Popeye Jones (Murray State) and former Minnesota standouts Quincy Lewis and Sam Jacobson.

In addition to his vast coaching experience, Cunningham brings a familiarity with the Sun Belt Conference having spent a combined five seasons at Western Kentucky (1988-92) and Arkansas State (1995-96).

Cunningham began his coaching career in 1973 as a graduate assistant at the University of North Alabama (then Florence State), where he played two seasons after transferring from Snead Junior College. Cunningham, who is a member of UNA’s Athletic Hall of Fame, earned a pair of letters at UNA and received all-conference accolades as a senior.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education and history from UNA in 1973, and completed his master’s in education in 1975. After two seasons at UNA, Cunningham took an assistant coaching job at Bradshaw High School in Florence, Ala. He spent eight years as an assistant (1975-83) before taking over as head coach (1983-86).

Cunningham got his first Division I coaching job at Murray State (1986-88), helping the Racers to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 1988. Led by Popeye Jones, the 14th-seeded Racers upset No. 3 seed North Carolina State in the opening round.

Following the 1987-88 season, Cunningham moved on to Bowling Green, Ky., where he spent four seasons on staff at WKU (1988-92) and helped the Hilltoppers to an NIT appearance in 1992. He then spent three years on staff at Missouri State (1992-95), helping the Bears earn a trip to the NIT in 1993, before spending the 1995-96 campaign at Arkansas State.

A native of Aliceville, Ala., Cunningham has one daughter, Robin, and one son, Derrick.