If you’ve spent any time following Sun Belt basketball or tracking the SEC recruiting trails over the last twenty years, you’ve definitely run into the name Phil Cunningham. He’s one of those guys who just knows how the gears of college hoops turn. He isn’t some flash-in-the-pan coach who rode a single lucky tournament run to a high-major payday. No, Cunningham is a grinder. He’s a guy who builds programs with a specific kind of blue-collar energy.
Honestly, his story is basically a masterclass in how to survive and thrive in the chaotic landscape of Division I coaching. As of 2026, he’s back in a lead chair, and if history tells us anything, the ULM Warhawks are about to become a very annoying opponent for the rest of the conference.
What Really Happened with Phil Cunningham Basketball Coach at Troy?
Most people remember Cunningham for his six-year stint as the head man at Troy University from 2013 to 2019. It was a rollercoaster. He took over a program that was literally staring down the barrel of APR penalties—basically, the NCAA’s version of academic probation.
He didn't just fix the grades; he flipped the whole culture.
The peak? 2017. That year was legendary for the Trojans. They went on a tear in the Sun Belt Tournament, grabbed a championship ring, and punched a ticket to March Madness for only the second time in the school’s history. They ended up facing Duke in the first round. Even though they lost that game, Cunningham had already proven his point. He recruited absolute studs like Wesley Person Jr. and Jordon Varnado, guys who basically rewrote the Troy record books.
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But college sports is a "what have you done for me lately" business. After a rough 2018-19 season where the team went 12-18 and missed the conference tournament, the school decided to part ways. It felt harsh to some, but that's the life.
The Journey Back: From Starkville to Monroe
You can’t talk about Cunningham without talking about Rick Stansbury. These two are basically tied at the hip in coaching circles. Cunningham spent 12 seasons under Stansbury at Mississippi State. We're talking about the golden era of Bulldog basketball—six NCAA appearances, SEC titles, and a constant stream of NBA talent.
Did you know Cunningham was the lead recruiter for Monta Ellis?
Yeah, that Monta Ellis. The one who went straight from high school to the Golden State Warriors. Cunningham also landed guys like Jarvis Varnado and Jamont Gordon. He has this weirdly effective ability to spot talent in the "mid-major" cracks and convince them they can play at the highest level.
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After Troy, he didn't disappear. He went back to the lab, serving as an associate head coach at Western Kentucky. He helped the Hilltoppers nab a Conference USA title in 2021. Then, in 2024, he landed at ULM as an assistant under the retiring Keith Richard.
When Richard stepped down in March 2025, the choice was obvious. ULM Athletics Director John Hartwell—who, interestingly enough, was the guy who hired Cunningham at Troy years ago—didn’t overthink it. He handed Phil the keys to the Warhawks program.
The Coaching Philosophy: "It’s WE Not Me"
I’ve heard Cunningham speak about his approach before, and it’s surprisingly simple. He calls it "positive accountability." He’s not a "lead by fear" kind of coach. He’s energetic, kinda loud on the sidelines, but he focuses on the "we."
He once told a group of students at his alma mater, Campbellsville University, that the secret to rising in this profession is networking and work ethic. "It's who you know," he admitted, which is refreshing for a coach to actually say out loud. But he followed it up by saying you have to prove you can actually recruit and teach once you get through the door.
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The New Challenge: Building ULM in the NIL Era
Right now, Cunningham is facing the toughest version of college basketball we’ve ever seen. Between the Transfer Portal and NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) money, building a roster at a school like ULM is like trying to build a sandcastle during a hurricane.
In his recent interviews, he's been pretty candid about it. He’s going the "young route"—mixing a core of freshmen with a few experienced transfers. He knows it might take a year or two to really bake, but he isn't panicking. He’s seen the cycle before.
- Academic Integrity First: He’s obsessed with graduation rates. At Troy, every single one of his 16 seniors graduated.
- Defensive Grit: His teams usually struggle when the defense slips. When they win, it's because they're making the other team miserable for 40 minutes.
- Recruiting Relationships: He doesn't just look at stats; he looks at fit. He’s looking for the next "undiscovered" star who fits the Sun Belt style.
What This Means for You
If you’re a fan or just someone following the sport, watching Phil Cunningham at ULM is going to be a lesson in program building. He isn't trying to buy a championship; he’s trying to build one.
Next Steps for Following the Season:
- Track the 2026 Sun Belt Standings: Keep an eye on ULM's home record at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. That's where you'll see if the "positive energy" is catching on.
- Look at the Freshman Minutes: See how many minutes Cunningham is giving his younger recruits. That will tell you how much he’s committed to the long-term rebuild versus a quick fix.
- Check the Academic Awards: If ULM starts picking up Sun Belt Academic Honors, you know the "Phil Cunningham effect" is in full swing.
Phil isn't just a "phil cunningham basketball coach"—he's a survivor of the game's toughest transitions. Whether he's leading the Dragons at Sue Bennett College or the Warhawks in Monroe, the blueprint remains the same: work harder, stay positive, and never stop recruiting.