September 29, 2022

Ovid-Elsie Area Schools announced today that Dr. Ryan Cunningham has been appointed as head girls basketball coach for the 2022-23 season. 

A recent retiree from O-E as the district's superintendent since 2011, Dr. Cunningham will serve as a volunteer this season following new regulations set this summer by the Michigan Office of Retirement Services. 

A coach of nearly thirty-years, Dr. Cunningham led the Marauder girls team to a 21-2 season a year ago that included a Mid-Michigan Activities Conference (MMAC) and MHSAA district championships. Cunningham has coached in the Ovid-Elsie district for 18 years including two stints (2004-11 and 2014-22) as head girls' basketball coach. 

Prior to his time at Ovid-Elsie, Cunningham was the head girls basketball coach at Morenci High School (1997-99) and then led the Bulldogs' boys basketball program from 1998-2000. 

Cunningham also coached boys basketball at the freshman and varsity level at Adrian Lenawee Christian following his graduation from Adrian College in 1995. 

While at Adrian College, Cunningham was a prominent multisport student-athlete for the Bulldogs, participating in football, basketball and volleyball. He holds master's and doctoral degrees in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan University.  

Over 19 seasons as a girls basketball head coach, Cunningham earned 176 coaching victories. Overall, he's recorded 331 career coaching wins in 35 seasons. 

In 2022, Cunningham was runner-up for the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) Coach of the Year Award, was named the Lansing State Journal Area Coach of the Year and was the winning head coach in the Lansing Area All-Star Game. 

"I'm happy to see Dr. Cunningham return to the sidelines," said Mike Watson, O-E director of athletics. "It's easy to see why the program has been so successful under Ryan's leadership. He seeks to develop the whole student-athlete and the outpouring of support for him from players and families has been overwhelming."

Offseason activities will be announced in October. The MHSAA girls basketball season begins on November 14. The Marauders open up the 2022-23 campaign at Ionia on November 29. 

Questions regarding this story or any other athletic department matter can be directed to Mike Watson, CMAA, Director of athletics via email (mike.watson@ovidelsie.org), or by calling 989.834.2271. 

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