The 2017-18 season will be Celine Cunningham’s 16th as the head coach of the Stevens Institute of Technology women’s lacrosse team, a position she’s held since 2003. Cunningham is just the second coach in the 17-year history of the program.
In addition to her coaching duties, Cunningham’s also has served as the Stevens athletic department’s Senior Woman Administrator for over 10 years, and the Associate Athletic Director for seven.
During her tenure as head coach, Cunningham has compiled 188 wins for a .684 winning percentage, won at least 10 games 12 different times, and led the Ducks to five conference championships and 11 postseason berths.
The last eight seasons have been especially successful for Cunningham as the program has won nearly 100 games, earned two NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship appearances, compiled two NCAA Tournament wins, won an Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Mid-Atlantic Title in 2015, Metro/South crowns in 2008 and 2009, and captured back-to-back Empire 8 Conference titles in 2010 and 2011.
In addition to the team success, individuals have thrived under Cunningham’s leadership as the veteran coach has mentored 78 all-conference performers, including seven conference players of the year. Additionally, 18 have been named to All-ECAC teams, while 38 have earned IWLCA All-Region status. Cunningham’s student-athletes have also shined with the highest of honors culminating with 14 IWLCA All-American nods.
Cunningham’s teams have been no stranger to off-the-field success either, as the Ducks have received the IWLCA Academic Team Award each season since 2003. Team are awarded the prestigious honor by earning a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
Individuals have been a fixture on the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll as well under Cunningham with representatives each year since 2006.
As a student-athlete herself, Cunningham played both field hockey and lacrosse at the University of Maryland. During her time as a Terrapin, Cunningham was a four-year starter, a captain of the field hockey team and won the 1981 National Championship in women’s lacrosse. Cunningham capped off her collegiate career by being named a first-team All-American and a member of the U.S. National Squad.
Since entering the coaching ranks, Cunningham has coached at a number of institutions including Georgetown University and Columbia University, where she’s racked up more than 200 wins as a head coach total for her career. In 2000, Cunningham’s contributions to the sport were recognized with her being inducted to the New Jersey Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
Serving as Stevens’ Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator in addition to her coaching duties, Cunningham is a member of the Board of Directors for the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA), the IWLCA All-American committee, and the NCAA Rules Committee. Cunningham’s also served as the regional chairwoman of the All-American committee, and the Empire 8 lacrosse chair.
A native of Cherry Hill, N.J., Cunningham resides in Union City with her husband Tony, beautiful children and puppy Derb.
