University of North Alabama Athletics

Charles Cunningham, A two-year letterman in basketball in 1972-73, led UNA in rebounding in 1972 with 296 rebounds and in 1973 with 264 rebounds. He was selected All-Gulf South Conference in 1973. He holds a share of the school record for rebounds in a game with 23 against Lambuth in 1973. He graduated from UNA in 1973 with a B.S. degree in physical education and history. He went on to earn a master's degree in  education in 1975 from UNA and a education  specialist for secondary education degree in 1981.

He served as a graduate assistant basketball coach at UNA in 1974 and 1975 and then served eight years as an assistant basketball coach at Bradshaw High School in Florence. He then became the Bruins head coach before leaving in 1986 for a position at Murray State.

A highly successful college basketball coach, at the time of his induction Cunningham served as an assistant at the University of Minnesota. The Golden Gophers advanced to the 1997 Final Four and won the 1998 NIT Championship. Prior to going to Minnesota, he served as an assistant at Arkansas State in 1995-96 and had also served at Southwest Missouri State (1992-95), Western Kentucky (1988-92) and Murray State (1986-88). Known as an  excellent recruiter, he was responsible for recruiting Popeye Jones of the NBA's Toronto Raptors while at Murray State.

He also recruited Darnell Mee (Denver Nuggets) and Chris Robinson (Vancouver Grizzlies) to Western Kentucky. A native of Aliceville, Ala., Cunningham graduated from Kirksey High School in 1969 and attended Snead State Junior College before transferring to UNA.

He and his wife Denese have two children.