Gary Cunningham (2001) - Hall of Fame

Gary Cunningham

Induction:
2001

1960-61-62 basketball forward, and '62 co-captain of the team that came within seconds of a chance at the NCAA championship. An excellent outside shooter, he was a three-year starter, 1962 winner of the Ducky Drake Award for best spirit, inspiration and team contribution and three-time winner of the Ace Calkins Award as Bruin free-throw champion. In 1960 he made 28 out of 28 free throws in league play. Cunningham was the coach of Lew Alcindor’s freshman team that defeated John Wooden's defending NCAA championship team in the opening scrimmage of the 1965-66 season. Cunningham then served as an assistant coach to Coach Wooden from 1969-75 and was a part of six National Championship teams. In 1976 and ‘77, Cunningham served as executive director of the UCLA Alumni Association before returning to the hardwood. Gary followed Gene Bartow as head coach during the 1977-78 and 1978-79 seasons when the Bruins went 50-8, won two Pac-10 championships and two NCAA berths before resigning to enter the field of athletic administration. He is currently athletic director at UC Santa Barbara, but he still has close ties to UCLA.

* Accomplishments listed above were at the time of induction.