From EMU Athletics
After three decades of dedication and leadership at Eastern Michigan University, Head Men’s Golf Coach Bruce Cunningham announced his retirement last month. The 2023-24 season marked Cunningham’s 30th year leading the Eastern Michigan men’s golf team.
“It has been a privilege every day to coach and mentor our student-athletes,” said Cunningham. “With the addition of the GameAbove Golf Performance Center, everything is in place to pass the baton and enable the next coach and future teams to train and practice like champions. I will continue to be an ambassador of our golf program and serve as a bridge between current, past, and future players. I have been blessed to recruit extremely talented student-athletes whose dedication to our core values helped build the foundation on which this program is based. Their passion, competitive spirit, and dedication greatly influenced our national success.”
Since he arrived at EMU in 1994, Cunningham has been instrumental in shaping the men’s golf program into a powerhouse, leaving an indelible mark on generations of student-athletes. Under his tutelage, the Eagle golfers achieved remarkable success, consistently ranking among the top contenders in the Mid-American Conference. Cunningham’s leadership propelled EMU to victory, clinching the MAC title in 2007, 2008, and 2019, with numerous top-three finishes throughout his tenure.
Cunningham’s legacy is defined by his unwavering dedication to excellence. He was named MAC Coach of the Year three times and is one of the most decorated coaches in the conference’s history. Hundreds of student-athletes have thrived under his mentorship.
“Eastern Michigan has provided me with the professional courtesy and framework to build a nationally relevant Division I program. Our program is a testament to every student-athlete, past and present, who committed their college careers to EMU and were accountable to our values, goals, and expectations. Our student-athletes deserve all the credit for taking equal ownership of the program and did everything asked of them emotionally, mentally, and physically to meet our team goals and expectations. Eagle Crest Golf Club and the GameAbove Golf Performance Center will ensure the future pursuit of competitive excellence with state-of-the-art golf facilities critical in the pursuit of our student-athletes skill development.”
Earlier this year, Eastern Michigan held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the GameAbove Golf Performance Center at Eagle Crest Golf Course. The building is dedicated in honor of Cunningham and marked the culmination of a visionary project that promises to redefine the landscape of collegiate golf training at EMU.
Cunningham’s influence reverberates throughout collegiate golf, with his tenure ranking among the longest in MAC history. His steadfast commitment to the NCAA experience has resulted in multiple tournament appearances, showcasing EMU’s golf program to a national stage.
Cunningham’s teams placed the team, or individual in six NCAA Tournaments during his time at EMU. In 2010, Cunningham guided the Eagles to the 11th seed in the NCAA Northwest Regional, finishing seventh out of 13 squads.
Beyond the fairways, Cunningham’s dedication to golf extends to his roles as Head PGA Golf Professional at Eagle Crest Golf Club and his active involvement in golf committees. His comprehensive understanding of the sport’s intricacies and his passion for its advancement have made him a respected figure in golf administration.
A 1985 graduate of Wittenberg University, Cunningham was a two-time Most Valuable Player on the golf team and played in three national championships. He was also captain of the squad.
Cunningham is a native of Ashland, Ohio, and attended Ashland High School. There, he was a three-time all-conference golfer, earning Most Valuable Golfer honors and serving as captain of the squad. He also was a two-time letterwinner on the basketball team.
