Gary Cunningham

Teams coached: UCLA Bruins
UCLA record: 50-8 (.862)
Overall record: 50-8 (.862)

1977-1979	UCLA
1965-1977	UCLA (asst)

Gary Cunningham
Born c. 1940
Alma Mater: University of California, Los Angeles (BA, 1962)
Played for two seasons at UCLA under Hall of Fame head coach John Wooden
- Was a part of the Bruins’ first ever NCAA Final Four appearance (1962)
- Selected 58th overall in the 1962 NBA Draft by the Cincinnati Royals
Started his coaching career at his alma mater in 1965, joining Wooden’s staff as an assistant coach
- Worked under Wooden for the next ten seasons, during which time the Bruins won eight NCAA titles
Was selected as Wooden’s replacement in 1977, leading the Bruins for the next two seasons
- Went 50-8 overall, reaching the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 1978 and Elite Eight in 1979
- Won the Pac-8/Pac-10 title both years, finishing with a 29-3 overall conference record
Stepped away from coaching in 1979 to start his administrative career
- Spent the next 29 years as a college athletic director, through his retirement in 2008
  - Western Oregon State (1979-81), Wyoming (1981-86), Fresno State (1986-95), UC Santa Barbara (1995-2008)
- Retired in 2008 after 13 years at UCSB and still lives in the Santa Barbara area
  - Received the Coach Wooden “Keys to Life” Award in 2017