CADEN HAYNOR / NEWS EDITOR

John   Cunningham,  a man who served USD athletics in a variety of positions over his six decade career as a baseball coach, an assistant basketball coach, a bus driver and an unofficial greeter, passed away on Sept. 2, 2025. He helped build USD Athletics as it was still developing when he began his USD career in 1962. 

After hearing of Cunningham’s passing, USD Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Athletics Kimya Massey reflected on Cunningham’s importance to the USD community in an obituary published by USD Athletics.

“John Cunningham made an immeasurable impact on USD Athletics  across a career unlike any other,” Massey said. “His selfless dedication to our university and its student-athletes laid the foundation for Torero baseball, setting a standard for our program that lives on today. Perhaps most importantly, he positively impacted the lives of countless Toreros across his 60-plus-year tenure in our department. Nobody loved USD more than Coach Cunningham, and we are all mourning his loss today.”

In 1988, USD named its baseball field John Cunningham Stadium and when the field was renovated in 2013, it was renamed Fowler Park and Cunningham Field. Even after the renovation, Cunningham’s name and his number “33” continue to be displayed clearly in the stadium.

Cunningham helped drive Torero teams to their games. Photo courtesy of USD Athletics

In a discussion with the San Diego Union Tribune years ago, Cunningham expressed his love for USD.

“I can honestly say my heart is on this hill,” Cunningham stated. “I love this place, the grounds, the people, the architecture. This is where I was meant to be.”
When he first came to USD, Cunningham was immediately hired to be the head coach of USD’s freshman basketball team, became an assistant coach for the varsity baseball team and directed all intramural activities. In 1964, Cunningham was promoted to be the head coach of baseball, which he led for 35 years, where he coached 16 winning seasons and appeared in two NCAA Division II College World Series.
The  first  year that USD entered into Division I, Cunningham coached the baseball team to a 32-19-1 record, placing fourth in the Southern California Baseball Association. Cunningham coached the team to high repute after the Toreros joined the West Coast Conference (WCC) eventually being named West Coast Conference Co-Coach of the Year. Cunningham continues to hold the school record for WCC wins in a season, with 21 wins in 1996. He was later placed in the WCC Hall of Honor in 2017.
Cunningham coached teams in the California Collegiate League (CCL) over multiple summers, adding 300 victories to his 843 victories at USD. From these CCL teams, 11 of Cunningham’s players played in major leagues, along with seven Torero athletes he coached. In 1993, the Junior Chamber of Commerce and City Club of San Diego named him “Citizen of the Year.” The Society for American Baseball Research’s San Diego Chapter also named Cunningham among the 25 most influential people in San Diego that were involved in baseball.
Brock Ungricht, USD baseball head coach, expressed his appreciation for Cunningham’s prominent career and faithful service.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of Coach Cunningham’s passing,” Ungricht stated in an interview with USD Athletics for Cunningham’s obituary. “JC laid the foundation for our program and built a legacy that will forever live on at Fowler Park and Cunningham Field and in the hearts of Toreros everywhere. Rest in peace, Coach.”
After retiring from his coaching position, Cunningham continued to be a constant presence in  USD athletic events, driving teams to sporting events as USD’s athletic department director of transportation, until 2022, marking 60 years of dedicated service. When he retired in 2022, a GoFundMe was started by the USD community, with 55 donations raising over $34,000 to help Cunningham into retirement.
John Cunningham continues to live on in the hearts and minds of not only Toreros, but also the many San Diego residents that knew and loved him.

Cunningham, pictured on the right, poses with baseball assistant coach. Photo courtesy of USD Athletics