Sonoma State University Athletics

Steve Cunninghame returns for his 25th season as the head coach of the Sonoma State men’s tennis team in 2017.

Since taking over the reigns of the program in 1988, Cunninghame has compiled a record of 176-301, and since 2000, led the Seawolves to six NCAA tournament appearances.

Recording just three wins in 2013, Cunninghame led a resurgence in 2014, scoring 11 victories and earning a spot in the Pacific West Conference Tournament during the program's first season as an affiliate member of the PacWest.  The Seawolves went 1-2 in the tournament to finish in sixth place and with a season record of 11-13 -- it was the most wins in a season for Cunninghame and crew since the 2001 campaign.

After starting the 2012 season at 2-8, many of the losses against the top teams in the nation, including Division I opponents, the Seawolves ended 2012 on a six-match win streak and became nationally-ranked at No. 45 and regionally-ranked at No. 4.  Being that SSU has one of the toughest schedules in the nation every year, the 2012 campaign was the program's most successful since 2000.

A player for the Cossack tennis team in 1979 and again from 1981-83, Cunninghame served as an assistant coach to Jay Potter from 1984-87, focusing his coaching skills on the men’s team.

In 1988, Cunninghame was named the head coach of the women’s team and he took over the head coaching duties for both teams the following year. As head coach of the SSU women’s squad, Cunninghame compiled a 70-42 record, coached the Cossacks’ first tennis All-American (Megan Lowrey), and led five nationally-ranked teams.  His 1989-90 team finished ranked ninth in the nation.

In men’s tennis, Cunninghame compiled a record of 36-64 before the sport, along with five others, was dropped at the end of the 1991-92 school year due to budget constraints. The team was resurrected in 1997-98, and Cunninghame returned to lead the team to a 11-9 mark in their first season back in NCAA competition.