Travis Cunningham joined head coach Shawn Clark’s staff as an inside linebackers coach in February 2023.

During a nine-win 2023 season that included a Sun Belt East Division title and a Cure Bowl victory, inside linebacker Andrew Parker improved from his 68 tackles in 2022 to 114 in 2023 while being honored as a first-team All-Sun Belt selection. Caden Sullivan’s move inside later in the season was part of a scheme adjustment that contributed to a 6-1 finish, and Sullivan ranked third on the team with 64 tackles.

Two of the three leading tacklers on the 2024 team were linebackers Brendan Harrington and Kyle Arnholt. Harrington, a two-time team captain, led App State’s defense with 66 tackles after suffering season-ending injuries early in the 2022 season (shoulder injury in the opener vs. UNC) and 2023 season (knee injury in Week 2 vs. UNC).

Cunningham coached WKU’s inside linebackers during the 2022 season after working with App State defensive coordinator Scot Sloan as Georgia Southern's inside linebackers coach in a 3-4 scheme from 2018-21.
 
Cunningham played at Gardner-Webb from 1999-2000 and then coached at his alma mater for the next 17 seasons, adding defensive coordinator in its 3-4 scheme to his duties for his final two seasons with the Runnin' Bulldogs.
 
In 2022, during a 9-5 season for WKU, the Hilltoppers ranked in the top 30 nationally in interceptions (nine), passing yards allowed per game (No. 23 at 182.3) and pass efficiency defense (No. 12 at 105.87) while allowing just 22.8 points per game and 369.0 yards per game.
 
Cunningham helped guide Georgia Southern to three bowl games in his first three seasons with the Eagles, who won the 2018 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl and 2020 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
 
With Cunningham helping coach Sloan's defense at Georgia Southern, the 2020 squad that went 8-5 ranked No. 1 in the country in interceptions (18), No. 14 in total defense, No. 14 in rushing defense and No. 12 in red zone defense. The 2019 team led the Sun Belt in fumbles recovered and tackles for loss per game, while the 2018 team that went 10-3 led the FBS with a +22 turnover margin and allowed just 21.5 points per game.
 
During his 17 seasons at Gardner-Webb, Cunningham spent 14 of those seasons coaching inside linebackers and one season coaching the secondary. Six Bulldogs earned all-conference honors under Cunningham’s leadership as defensive coordinator, and his standouts included an FCS All-American in linebacker Chad Geter, who went on to play professionally in the Canadian Football League.
 
A total of 21 players earned all-conference honors under Cunningham’s guidance at Gardner-Webb, and six were named to postseason All-America teams. 
 
After playing for the Bulldogs as a long snapper and special teams contributor from 1999-2000, Cunningham earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Gardner-Webb in 2003.

Cunningham and his wife, Kelly, have two sons, Brooks and Blake.
 
Coaching Experience
2001-02: Gardner-Webb (Student assistant)
2003-04: Gardner-Webb (Inside linebackers) 
2005: Gardner-Webb (Secondary)
2006-15: Gardner-Webb (Inside linebackers) 
2016-17: Gardner-Webb (Defensive coordinator/Inside linebackers) 
2018-21: Georgia Southern (Inside linebackers) 
2022: WKU (Inside linebackers)
2023-24: App State (Inside linebackers)
 
Playing Experience
Gardner-Webb (1999-2000)
 
Alma Mater: Gardner-Webb, 2003
Hometown: Knoxville, Tenn.
Birthdate: Feb. 3, 1981
Wife: Kelly
Sons: Brooks and Blake
Twitter: @TCunninghamAPP