Temple Alum Brendan Cunningham Named Men’s Crew Coach
7.26.23 | Men's Crew
PHILADELPHIA - Brendan Cunningham, who was a four-year member of the Owls men's crew team (2006-10) and most recently served the last five seasons as an assistant men's rowing coach at Drexel University, has been named the head men's crew coach at Temple University, announced Vice President and Director of Athletics Arthur Johnson.
"Brendan Cunningham is the ideal candidate to lead our men's crew program," said Johnson. "He knows Temple, having been an accomplished rower for the Owls during his undergraduate career, and has had success leading and developing students-athletes, while maintaining strong relationships within the Philadelphia rowing community. We look forward to Brendan continuing the program's rich tradition of success."
"I am honored to be named the Head Coach of the Temple Owls Crew program. I want to thank Arthur Johnson, Jessica Reo and the entire search committee for their belief and trust in me," said Cunningham. "I am part of the proud history of the program, rowing under Hall of Fame coach Dr. Gavin White, and I look forward to building a proud future for Temple Crew starting when we reconvene at the Temple Boathouse in the fall. Go Owls!"
Cunningham helped Drexel men's rowing to unprecedented success this past year as the Dragon's placed a pair of boats in the Top 15 at the IRA National Championships for the first time in program history. Drexel's Varsity 8 finished 14th in the nation, its best-ever finish, while the Dragon's 3rd Varsity 8 also placed 14th for its best-ever showing.
The 2022-23 season was one of the best in Drexel history with the Dragons winning the Head of the Charles and the Head of the Schuylkill before a top-10 spot at the Princeton Chase in the fall season. In the spring, Drexel would post wins at the Occoquan Invitational, Kerr Cup and Bergen Cup regattas, before earning its second consecutive men's points title at the Dad Vail Regatta.
In 2021-22, Cunningham helped lead Drexel to wins at every major Philadelphia region cup, capped by sweeping the V8+, 2V8+, and 3V8+ at the Dad Vail Regatta to claim both the men's points title for the first time since 2015 and the overall points title for the first time since 2018. Drexel also won the Murphy Cup, Kerr Cup, and Bergen Cup.
Drexel also won two gold medals at the 2021 Dad Vail Regatta and the program had its best finish at IRA Nationals, coming in 11th overall.
In his first season at Drexel, the Dragons claimed the men's points title at the Dad Vail Regatta, finished runner-up at the Kerr Cup, earned a Varsity 8 win at the Murphy Cup and qualified for the IRA National Championships as a team.
Prior to Drexel, Cunningham spent four seasons as an assistant coach of the Penn men's heavyweight rowing team after joining the staff in the summer of 2014. As the Quakers second assistant, Cunningham worked with the third varsity eight and varsity four boats.
During the 2013 season Cunningham was as a volunteer assistant at Yale. The Bulldogs reached the Grand Final at both the IRA National Championships and EARC Sprints that year, finishing sixth overall in the varsity eight at each competition. He also served two years as an assistant at Washington College (2011-13) and one on the staff at Lower Merion High School (2010-11).
Cunningham, an Upper Darby, Pa. native, earned his Master of Science degree in Sports Coaching Leadership from Drexel University in 2021. He rowed four years for the Owls with his final two seasons in the five-seat of the Varsity 8.
"Brendan Cunningham is the ideal candidate to lead our men's crew program," said Johnson. "He knows Temple, having been an accomplished rower for the Owls during his undergraduate career, and has had success leading and developing students-athletes, while maintaining strong relationships within the Philadelphia rowing community. We look forward to Brendan continuing the program's rich tradition of success."
"I am honored to be named the Head Coach of the Temple Owls Crew program. I want to thank Arthur Johnson, Jessica Reo and the entire search committee for their belief and trust in me," said Cunningham. "I am part of the proud history of the program, rowing under Hall of Fame coach Dr. Gavin White, and I look forward to building a proud future for Temple Crew starting when we reconvene at the Temple Boathouse in the fall. Go Owls!"
Cunningham helped Drexel men's rowing to unprecedented success this past year as the Dragon's placed a pair of boats in the Top 15 at the IRA National Championships for the first time in program history. Drexel's Varsity 8 finished 14th in the nation, its best-ever finish, while the Dragon's 3rd Varsity 8 also placed 14th for its best-ever showing.
The 2022-23 season was one of the best in Drexel history with the Dragons winning the Head of the Charles and the Head of the Schuylkill before a top-10 spot at the Princeton Chase in the fall season. In the spring, Drexel would post wins at the Occoquan Invitational, Kerr Cup and Bergen Cup regattas, before earning its second consecutive men's points title at the Dad Vail Regatta.
In 2021-22, Cunningham helped lead Drexel to wins at every major Philadelphia region cup, capped by sweeping the V8+, 2V8+, and 3V8+ at the Dad Vail Regatta to claim both the men's points title for the first time since 2015 and the overall points title for the first time since 2018. Drexel also won the Murphy Cup, Kerr Cup, and Bergen Cup.
Drexel also won two gold medals at the 2021 Dad Vail Regatta and the program had its best finish at IRA Nationals, coming in 11th overall.
In his first season at Drexel, the Dragons claimed the men's points title at the Dad Vail Regatta, finished runner-up at the Kerr Cup, earned a Varsity 8 win at the Murphy Cup and qualified for the IRA National Championships as a team.
Prior to Drexel, Cunningham spent four seasons as an assistant coach of the Penn men's heavyweight rowing team after joining the staff in the summer of 2014. As the Quakers second assistant, Cunningham worked with the third varsity eight and varsity four boats.
During the 2013 season Cunningham was as a volunteer assistant at Yale. The Bulldogs reached the Grand Final at both the IRA National Championships and EARC Sprints that year, finishing sixth overall in the varsity eight at each competition. He also served two years as an assistant at Washington College (2011-13) and one on the staff at Lower Merion High School (2010-11).
Cunningham, an Upper Darby, Pa. native, earned his Master of Science degree in Sports Coaching Leadership from Drexel University in 2021. He rowed four years for the Owls with his final two seasons in the five-seat of the Varsity 8.
