Melvin Cunningham

Last updated
Melvin Cunningham
No. 45, 17
Position: Defensive specialist
Personal information
Born: (1973-12-16) December 16, 1973 (age 50)
Huntington, West Virginia, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
College: Marshall
Undrafted: 1997
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
Career Arena statistics
Tackles:54
Pass breakups:14
Receptions:77
Receiving yards:957
Total TDs:15
Player stats at ArenaFan.com

Melvin Cunningham (born December 16, 1973) is a former American football defensive specialist who played two seasons with the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football at Marshall University. He was also a member of the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). [1]

Contents

College career

Cunningham played for the Marshall Thundering Herd from 1993 to 1996. He was an All-American and first team All-Southern Conference selection in 1995 and 1996. He recorded 3 interceptions, returning both for touchdowns, and 27 tackles his senior year in 1996. [2] [3] The Thundering Herd won the Division I-AA national championship in 1996. [4]

Professional career

Cunningham signed with the Miami Dolphins of the NFL on April 27, 1997 after going undrafted in the 1997 NFL Draft. [3] He was released by the Dolphins on August 12, 1997. [5]

Cunningham was signed by the AFL's Tampa Bay Storm during the 1999 off-season. He earned Second Team All-Arena honors in 1999. [6] He missed the 2000 and 2001 seasons due to injury. [7] He was placed on injured reserve on June 18, 2002. Cunningham was later placed on the injured exempt list on January 11, 2003. He was released by the Storm on November 6, 2003. [8]

Coaching career

Cunningham was defensive backs coach of the River Cities LocoMotives of the National Indoor Football League in 2001. [2]

Cunningham became head coach of the Tug Valley High School Panthers of Mingo County, West Virginia in 2000. [9] He was defensive coach for the Burch High School Bulldogs of Delbarton, West Virginia in 2010. [10] Cunningham became head coach of the Fairland High School Dragons of Proctorville, Ohio. [9] The team went 0-10 in 2015 and 3-7 in 2016. [11] [12] 2021 season finished 10-2 with a loss in Ohio HS playoffs sweet sixteen round. [13] In 2023, Cunningham resigned from his job at Fairland after he was named the Murray High School head football coach. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Hanson (American football)</span> American football player and coach (born 1976)

Christopher David Hanson is an American former professional football player who was a punter for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Marshall Thundering Herd, and was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He also played professionally for the Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots. Hanson is perhaps best known for a season-ending injury sustained while swinging a motivational axe in the Jaguars' locker room in 2003. Hanson was a switch-punter, able to effectively kick with both his left and his right leg, which he alternated to reduce fatigue.

Melvin Laverne Agee Jr. was a professional football player who played defensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL), NFL Europe, and the Arena Football League (AFL). In his 10-year professional career he played for the NFL's Indianapolis Colts (1991–1992) and Atlanta Falcons (1992–1995), NFL Europe's Frankfurt Galaxy (1998), and the AFL's Tampa Bay Storm (1998–2002). Agee played college football at the University of Illinois.

Raymond Millous Hill was a college and professional American football player. He was a defensive back at Michigan State, and played four seasons in the National Football League (NFL), splitting three seasons between the Miami Dolphins and the Buffalo Bills. He was signed by the New England Patriots as a free agent in 2001, and was part of their Super Bowl XXXVI championship season. He suffered a leg injury during the 2001 preseason, and was placed on injured reserve for the entire season. His younger brother Renaldo Hill, also played in the NFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randy Melvin</span> American gridiron football player and coach (born 1959)

Randy Melvin is an American gridiron football coach. He was most recently the defensive line coach for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 Marshall Thundering Herd football team</span> American college football season

The 2002 Marshall Thundering Herd football team represented Marshall University in the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Thundering Herd played their home games at Marshall University Stadium in Huntington, West Virginia, and competed in the East Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The team was coached by seventh-year head coach Bob Pruett. Marshall won its fifth MAC title in six years and its fifth consecutive bowl game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marshall Thundering Herd football</span> Football team of Marshall University

The Marshall Thundering Herd football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports program of Marshall University. The team represents the university as a member of the Sun Belt Conference East Division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, playing at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Gase</span> American football coach (born 1978)

Adam Joseph Gase is a former American football coach in the National Football League (NFL). He came to prominence as the offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos from 2013 to 2014, whose offense set the NFL record for points scored in 2013 and helped the team reach Super Bowl XLVIII. Following this success, Gase served as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2016 to 2018 and the New York Jets from 2019 to 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gator Hoskins</span> American football player (born 1991)

Harold "Gator" Hoskins is a former American football tight end who last played for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Marshall.

Brandon Rayshun Reed is a former American football defensive back who played one season with the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Troy University and attended Russell County High School in Seale, Alabama. He was also a member of the Hamburg Sea Devils, New York Jets, Orlando Predators and Tampa Bay Storm.

Melvin Williams is a former American football defensive end who played two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers. He was drafted by the Saints in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Kansas State University and attended Mehlville High School in Mehlville, Missouri. Williams was also a member of the Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins and New Orleans VooDoo.

Deatrich Wise is a former American football defensive tackle who played two seasons with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the ninth round of the 1988 NFL Draft. He first enrolled at Alabama State University before transferring to Jackson State University. He was also a member of the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Storm.

Peter Elezovic is a former American football placekicker who played seven seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Albany Firebirds, Chicago Rush, Buffalo Destroyers, Carolina Cobras, Tampa Bay Storm, and New York Dragons. He played college football at the University of Michigan. He was also a member of the Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Scottish Claymores, Barcelona Dragons and Rhein Fire.

Jermaine "Shea" Showers is a former American football defensive back who played seven seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Iowa Barnstormers, New York Dragons, Grand Rapids Rampage and Tampa Bay Storm. He played college football at the University of Florida and attended Santa Fe High School in Alachua, Florida.

Tim Martin is a former American football lineman who played eight seasons in the Arena Football League with the Oklahoma Wranglers, Dallas Desperados, New Orleans VooDoo, Grand Rapids Rampage and San Jose SaberCats. He played college football at the University of Tulsa and attended Sequoyah High School in Claremore, Oklahoma. He was also a member of the Miami Dolphins, Barcelona Dragons, Chicago Enforcers and New York Dragons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walt Housman</span> American football player and coach (born 1962)

Walter Henry Housman III is a former American football offensive tackle who played one season with the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). Housman served as an assistant coach for the Baltimore Brigade of the Arena Football League (AFL) from 2017 to 2019. He first enrolled at the University of Iowa before transferring to Upsala College. He attended Merrimack High School in Merrimack, New Hampshire. Housman was also a member of the New York Knights, Denver Dynamite and New Orleans Night of the AFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neville Hewitt (American football)</span> American football player (born 1993)

Neville Hewitt is an American football linebacker for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Marshall, where he was a safety and linebacker. Hewitt signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2015.

John Robert Jenkins is an American football former kicker in the National Football League for the Baltimore Ravens.

Darius Hodge is an American professional football defensive lineman for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Marshall Thundering Herd.

James Robert "J. R." Conrad is a former American football offensive lineman who played with the New England Patriots, the New York Jets, and the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oklahoma.

References

  1. ↑ "Players". phins.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Marshall Football History" (PDF). grfx.cstv.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Apr 21, 1997: -- Dolphins Get 11 More Rookies --". phins.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Melvin Cunningham". galeforcedesign.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Aug 12, 1997: -- Nedney, Chris Gray and 5 Others Released --". phins.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Melvin Cunningham". arenafan.com. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ "To Melvin Cunningham". arenafan.com. Archived from the original on March 30, 2003. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Historical Team Transactions". arenafan.com. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  9. 1 2 Walker, Jim (February 1, 2015). "Fairland hires Cunningham as new head football coach". irontontribune.com. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  10. ↑ https://s3.amazonaws.com/wvmetro-uploads-prod/2014/05/Morrisey-Burch.pdf?x43308 [ bare URL PDF ]
  11. ↑ "Fairland Dragons". joeeitel.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  12. ↑ "2016 Fairland Owls Football Schedule". rockyprep.com. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  13. ↑ Stephens, Tim (2021-11-14). "Roughriders rough up dragons 33 -8". Herald Dispatch.
  14. ↑ "Melvin Cunningham Named Murray High School Head Football Coach". www.murray.kyschools.us. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.