Casey Cunningham Position: Head Assistant Coach Experience: 3rd Season

Casey Cunningham is in his third year on the Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling staff. Named head assistant coach by Cael Sanderson in April of 2009, Casey is in his 12th as a collegiate coach.

Cunningham served as Cael Sanderson's head assistant coach last season at Iowa State. Prior to his one year stint in Ames, he was an assistant coach at Central Michigan for seven years (2001-2008). During his tenure at CMU, he helped lead 18 Chippewas to All-American honors and 35 Mid-American titles. During Cunningham's last season as an assistant, Central Michigan finished seventh at the 2008 NCAA Championships. CMU dominated the MAC during Cunningham's time with the Chippewas, winning the last 10 regular season championships (including all seven during his run as an assistant).

As a wrestler, Cunningham is among Central Michigan's all-time greats. He capped off his collegiate career in 1999 by winning the 157-pound title in the Bryce Jordan Center, earning the school's first Division I national title and only the second individual title in school history in any sport. The two-time All-American (he was national runner-up in 1998) won three MAC championships (1996, 1997 and 1999) and was twice named MAC Wrestler of the Year (1998 and 1999). Cunningham finished his Chippewa career with a 134-19 record. An accomplished international competitor, Cunningham won the 2008 Pan American Games silver medal and retired from international competition in 2008.

Cunningham earned his bachelor's degree in sociology with an emphasis in criminal justice from CMU in 1999. His wife, Tara (Nott), is an Olympic champion, having won the gold medal in weightlifting at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. The couple has three sons, Hayden, Asher and Ryder.