Grand Canyon University head swimming coach Steve Schaffer has announced the addition of Charlie Cunningham to his staff for the upcoming 2015-16 season.
Cunningham brings a wealth of experience to GCU, having tallied more than 35 years of club coaching experience with the Arizona Swimming Gauchos. Cunningham has served as the head coach and chief executive officer of the Gauchos for the last 23 years.
“I have known Charlie for a very long time,” said Schaffer. “We each ran club teams here in Arizona and Charlie and I have very similar training philosophies and share common influences in both technique development and training design.”
Cunningham has seen extensive success among his athletes with several earning high accolades in the pool. The long-time coach’s impressive resume includes the guidance of 23 High School All-Americans, 31 USA Swimming Junior National qualifiers, 11 USA Swimming Senior qualifiers, seven U.S. open qualifiers and four USA Swimming Olympic Trials qualifiers. He has also had two USA Swimming National Team members, one placing third at the World University Games in 2006, and has been a consultant and advisor to an Olympic finalist in 2012 and World Championship winner in 2014.
“Charlie’s primary role will be that of Director of Performance,” said Schaffer. “He will have the primary responsibility for the week-to-week/day-to-day training plan design and evaluation. Our entire team, staff and swimmers alike will benefit from his expertise in training plan design and implementation.”
He is a past member of USA Swimming Sports Science, Senior Swimming committees and is also a past member of the USA Coach Mentor Program. In addition, he is a professional member of the National Strength Coaches Association and American College of Sport Medicine.
“I have been gently prodding Charlie to join our staff for a few years now and I am thrilled that he and I will finally be working together,” added Schaffer. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience and will most certainly help move our program to the next level.”
Cunningham graduated from ASU in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and is a U.S. Navy veteran serving as a Navy Hospital Corpsman assigned to 2nd Reconnaissance Bn. USMC.
Swimming news courtesy of Grand Canyon University Swimming.