"I've been around Casey as a competitor and he has a tremendous work ethic and understanding of the sport," Sanderson said. "He's coming from a program at Central Michigan that experienced great success. He spent seven years as an assistant coach under (Central Michigan head coach) Tom Borelli. Casey is a great coach and folkstyle wrestler. He trains at a weight class that is an ideal fit for our coaching staff."
The Chippewas finished tied for seventh in the team standings of the 2008 NCAA Championship with 69 points. The point total is the most CMU has ever scored at the national tournament. Cunningham worked mainly with the 165-pounders up to the heavyweight wrestlers at CMU, including 2008 NCAA 197-pound runner-up Wynn Michalak. Central Michigan has totally dominated the Mid-American Conference, winning the last 10 regular season championships and the last seven tournament championships.
"Iowa State is a team that contends for a national title year in and year out and with the team they have coming back next year, the national championship is the goal," Cunningham said. "There are other good teams coming back, but I believe Iowa State can win the NCAA Championship and that excites me. I am excited to get in the room and work hands on with the guys. With six All-Americans coming back, I want to help the Cyclones in their goal of winning NCAA individual and team titles."
Cunningham is anxious to get started.
"I'm excited to work alongside Cael and (ISU associate head coach) Cody [Sanderson] and it will be great to get a new perspective, another take and another view [on wrestling]," Cunningham said. "I was at Central Michigan for 13 years as a competitor and coach and am very thankful for that opportunity. Working under Coach Borrelli was a great experience and I think that it will help to bring another approach to the ISU wrestling room as well. I'm looking forward to the new challenge."
Cunningham capped off his collegiate career in 1999 by winning the NCAA 157-pound title. He was CMU wrestling's first Division I national champion and only the second individual national champion in any sport in school history. He was named the Chippewas' Most Valuable Wrestler all four years of his career.
The 32-year-old Middleton, Mich., native was an All-American as a junior and senior, finishing as the national runner-up in 1998 before winning the NCAA title the next season. He won three MAC championships (1996, 1997, 1999) and was twice named MAC Wrestler of the Year (1998, 1999).
Cunningham qualified for four NCAA Championships and twice participated in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) All-Star Dual. His championship resume also includes two Midlands championships, where he was named Champion of Champions during his senior year.
Cunningham also shined in the classroom, where he was CMU wrestling's first three-time Academic All-MAC selection. He earned first-team NWCA Academic All-America honors twice and was an honorable mention pick twice.
Cunningham finished his college career with a 134-19 four-year record. He holds several CMU records including career wins (134), career winning percentage (.876) and single-season winning percentage (.971 in 1998-99). He ranks sixth on the career pins list with 31.
He received his bachelor's degree in sociology with an emphasis in criminal justice from CMU in 1999.
At Fulton (Middleton, Mich.) High School, Cunningham was an All-American who captured two state championships. He earned all-state honors three times and had a career record of 176-15.
In 2002, he took second at both the U.S. Freestyle Nationals and World Team Trials wrestling at 163 pounds. He won the Dave Schultz International Open in 2003 along with taking third at the U.S. Freestyle Nationals and the World Team Trials. He finished third at the U.S. Nationals in 2004.
Cunningham resumed his international career in 2007, finishing second at 163 pounds at both the U.S. Senior Nationals and World Team Trials.
Cunningham married the former Tara Nott in July of 2003. Tara won a gold medal in weightlifting at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. The couple has two sons, Hayden William (3) and Asher Michael (2) and a third son due in July. In his free time, Casey enjoys spending time with his family, hunting and playing cards. His younger brother, Ryan, was a three-time All-American for CMU.
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