USD Baseball 1988

JOHN CUNNINGHAM Head Coach

Beginning his 25th season as head coach of the University of San Diego baseball program, John Cun- ningham has guided the Toreros from a Division II power to one of the most respected Division I teams in the Southern California region. After finishing last year with his 14th winning season, John carries a record of 549-537-13 into the '88 schedule. A native of San Diego, Cunning- ham attended St. Augustine High

School where he was a scholastic and athletic standout receiving AII- CIF honors in baseball and led the County in scoring during his senior basketball season. Cunningham attended the University of San Francisco where he again was a baseball and basketball standout, while also making the Presidents' Honor Roll six times and achieving membership in the Na- tional Jesuit Honor Society, "Alpha Sigma Nu." He received a B.S. degree in History as well as a general secondary credential. In basket- ball, John was named All-Conference and Honorable Mention on the Catholic All-America teams. Baseball cornered him a professional contract with the Baltimore Orioles. In his senior year, Cunningham was USF's ''Athlete of the Year." John began his career at USD in 1962, with 1986 seeing him win his 500th game. His teams have won thirty or more games six times, first in 1971; then back to back in 1978, 1979, 1980, and 1981; and final- ly in 1987 (31-23-1). Four of his teams have gone to post-season playoffs; two of the four becoming regional champions and College World Series participants. The 1971 team won the regional title while setting the school record of 34 wins. For that performance, Cunningham was named District 8 "Coach of the Year." 1979 was Cunningham's first effort at the Division I level. Contrary to expectations, he guided the Toreros to an impressive 32-19-1 record and a fourth place finish in the SCBA. In 1985 the Toreros moved into the West Coast Athletic Conference, and are currently playing in the WCAC. Nine of USD's players have been named "All-America" and two of them have been selected to represent the United States in international competition. 1986 and 1987 were winning seasons for the Toreros and Coach Cunningham and his 1988 squad are ready to make a run at the West Coast Athletic Conference leaders. John and his wife Nancy have one son, Geoffrey, age 13.

CUNNINGHAM'S COACHING RECORD

YEAR 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976

PCT. .387 .447 .350 .351 .564 .568

WON

LOST

12 17 20 14 13 22

19 21 26 26 24 17 16 12 19 22 15 20 16 19 22 19 25 25 24 27 36 39

.435 (NCAA Regionals, 0-2)

21 34 20 19 23 19 26 24 33 32 30 30 29 17 20 17 26 31

.739 (NCAA Playoffs, 4-2)

.513 (One Tie)

.463 .605

.487 (One Tie)

.619 (NCAA Playoffs, 5-3)

1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987

.558

.600 (NCAA Playoffs, 5-3)

.615 (One Tie) .545 (One Tie) .545 (One Tie) .547 (One Tie) .386 (One Tie) .362 (Two Ties) .310 (One Tie) .509 (Two Ties) .574 (One Tie) .505 (12 Ties)

25 23

CAREER

549

537

2