Tulsa Names Bubba Cunningham as Director of Athletics
10/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Tulsa Hurricane
Oct. 7, 2005
Tulsa, Okla. - Lawrence (Bubba) Cunningham, athletics director at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, since 2002, was named today as The University of Tulsa's new director of athletics, announced TU President Steadman Upham.
"I am especially pleased to announce Bubba's appointment," said Upham. "He is the candidate that best exemplifies the qualities and characteristics we were looking for as the University's new director of athletics. Bubba is the ideal person to sustain the momentum from our previous leadership and move the program forward."
Cunningham, 43, spent the past three years at Ball State. In his tenure, he guided a program with 19 intercollegiate sports and a budget of $12.4 million. Ball State will soon announce the successful completion of a $12M campaign to renovate the football stadium. In raising those funds, Cunningham secured the largest single gift in Ball State Athletics history.
"The university is very fortunate to have attracted a candidate with such impressive credentials," Upham added. "He has outstanding and well-rounded credentials as an athletic administrator. Bubba's experience in marketing, fundraising and the planning of facilities is well-suited for our university. He has shown a tremendous commitment to enhance the educational experience for the student-athlete."
"It was very apparent the great respect that The University of Tulsa and its athletics program holds nationally with the enormous interest and the high quality of candidates that this position attracted," said Upham.
"Tina and I are obviously very excited about the opportunity at The University of Tulsa. Through this entire process, I've been extremely impressed with the search committee, the coaches and the involvement and interest that the university receives from the community," said Cunningham. "The support that the community provides Tulsa is second to none."
"The transformation that's occurring on campus and the entrance into Conference USA with all the new opportunities that C-USA presents for the university is exciting," added Cunningham. "The University's continued rise in academic reputation nationally is attractive. The size of the campus and the chance to work with outstanding coaches and student athletes is very appealing."
Ball State continued its rich academic and athletic tradition under Cunningham's guidance. Cardinal teams had an average Academic Performance Rate (APR) Index of 983 with 12 programs at a rating of 1,000.
He implemented a variety of firsts for the Cardinals. The football team played the first-ever night game in Ball State Stadium and the first-ever weeknight home game in the university's 78-year history in 2003. Cunningham also developed and implemented a marketing plan for a record football attendance mark in 2003. He was able to secure funding exclusively from private donors to have permanent lights installed at Ball State Stadium.
In addition, Cunningham engineered the athletic department's outsourcing of its marketing and corporate sponsorship efforts when he secured a contract with Nelligan's Sports Marketing for the athletics department. The agreement with NSM produced one of the most profitable ventures ever by the athletics department.
Cunningham also assisted the athletics department in creating a relationship with NIKE for all of its athletics gear, engineered plans to enhance the student-athlete experience and hosted the first-ever marketing summit in the athletics department's history.
"I thoroughly enjoyed the experience at Ball State and want to thank the University for the opportunity I was given to shape the athletics department. We're close to completing a campaign for stadium improvements and have moved the athletics program to a more competitive level," said Cunningham.
Prior to his appointment at Ball State, Cunningham spent 15 years working in the athletics department at the University of Notre Dame.
At Notre Dame between 2000-02, Cunningham served as associate director of athletics for external affairs. He renegotiated the school's footwear contract, developed a communications and marketing plan, created marketing teams for all 26 varsity sports, increased corporate sponsorship income by 400 percent, created a financial/equity plan for the department and served as chairman of the NCAA Division I Women's Golf Committee.
Before that, he served as associate athletics director for finance and facilities (1995-2000). In that time, Cunningham was responsible for a $30 million budget and all business affairs.
In that capacity, Cunningham was responsible for developing and implementing an equity plan to meet Title IX requirements, completed the master plan for Notre Dame athletic facilities, coordinated the bid process and negotiation with Westwood for football radio rights and helped plan and complete the $50 million renovation and 20,000 seat expansion of Notre Dame Stadium. He also coordinated the planning and construction of the Warren Golf Course, an 18-hole championship course on the Notre Dame campus.
At Notre Dame, Cunningham also served as assistant athletics director/business manager (1993-95), ticketing and marketing manager (1988-93), and before that was an athletics department intern (1987-88).
Cunningham earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration, both from Notre Dame, in 1984 and 1988, respectively. He played on the Irish golf team in 1982-83.
Born in Flint, Mich., and raised in Naples, Fla., Cunningham and his wife, Tina, have four children: Matthew (14), Michael (12), John (10) and Sarah (8).
President Upham was assisted in the hiring process with a search/advisory committee that included board of trustee members, faculty, administrative and athletic staff, and community and business leaders.
The University announced that Cunningham agreed to a five-year contract.
