From the sideline to the seats: Patrick Cunningham calls it a career after 24-year run
Cunningham leaves legacy as only head coach in Arizona Western women's basketball history
YUMA, Ariz., (KYMA, KECY) - The story began in 1999 when Arizona Western College added women's basketball to its list of sports - when Patrick Cunningham stepped into the spotlight as its first head coach.
Growing up in a sports environment and excelling at multiple sports himself, Cunningham found his way to Yuma to begin a new chapter. Upon his presence came with a whole lot of uncertainty of starting a new program.
The keys were handed over and it was up to Cunningham to hit the gas.
Right away, Arizona Western was put on the map - going from just above a .500 record in year one, to a 32-win season and trip the the NJCAA Tournament in year three.
"Year one we were competitive, made the playoff. Then the second year we took that next step and were in the Region championship game. In year three, we were preseason No. 2 and then once we beat Central (Arizona) to go, it legitimized everything," said Cunningham. "That type of success turned it from a one-team league into a more competitive league. Over the years, the competitiveness of women's basketball started to trickle down. It used to be pretty predictable."
From there, the program never looked back - posting 15 seasons with 20-plus wins and being a constant face in the postseason.
But after the 2021-22 season where the Lady Matadors went 30-3 and made their second ever trip to the NJCAA Tournament as Region I champions, Cunningham decided to call it a career - until one day when things fell apart with a potential hire and he was asked to run it back one more time.
“Jerry (Smith) said ‘hey can you give it one more year?’ And I said ‘fine with me, no problem.' I live right across the street. I can ride my bike back and forth," said Cunningham. "I wanted to stay connected to the campus community here and I plan on continuing to teach part time, so it was really an easy decision for me to make.”
So 2022-23 became the final ride for a 24-year run that belonged to him as the only head coach that has ever stepped foot in the House Gymnasium for the Lady Matadors.
Despite 504 wins over his tenure, Cunningham continues to enter his retirement phase with all credit pointing to the ladies he has coached.
"504, that’s for the players. There’s 504 wins for Arizona Western College and the players and the assistant coaches and everybody," said Cunningham. "Kelly Green used to always remind me, I own all the losses, and I do. I mean I have no problem with that. I want the players to understand that the success is theirs and I’ll take the heat for anything that doesn’t go the right way.”
Through all the wins and losses - and all of the NJCAA All-American accolades, only one thing has mattered to Cunningham: being competitive and giving the student-athletes a life after college - also making Arizona Western a place that they can call home.
“It’s home for me. I know nothing else. I know this school and I know I like it here. I know players that have come here enjoyed their time here. There’s a lot of good that happens at this school and the environment that you’re going to be in and the family you’re going to be in from the administrators to the instructors," added Cunningham. "Mainly, we're just preparing kids for the next stage of their lives. If we can do a good job with that and be competitive along the way, that's the way to do it. That's good for the future and what you're trying to do is get the next kid to come to this place and help with the success."
While he won't be barking at officials or coaching up a timeout on the sideline anymore - Cunningham is looking forward to being a Matador fan from the seats, maintaining the pride he helped build over two decades ago.
