Temple University Athletics
Staff Directory
Brendan Cunningham
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
A member of the 2025 Intercollegiate Rowing Association Coaching Staff of the Year, Brendan Cunningham, who was a four-year member of the Owls men's crew team and is a USRowing Level III Certified Coach, begins his third season at the helm of his alma mater in 2025-26.
Last season was a return to glory for the Owls, as Cunningham saw his outfit earn IRA Comeback Team of the Year. Given to a team that has shown significant improvement with their perseverance, determination and dedication, the 2024-25 team personified that phrase throughout the season. The top three varsity eight boats were consistently ranked in the top 20 of the IRCA/IRA Top 25 polls all season and put together outstanding performances leading into Dad Vail Regatta.
Facing off against three other ranked opponents in the final, the first varsity eight took home a thrilling win at the finish line to win back the Richard O'Brien - James Hanna Trophy at Dad Vail Regatta for the first time since 2021. The second varsity eight also earned gold at Dad Vail Regatta, as did the novice eight. The top two varsity boats, along with the third varsity eight, all closed the regular season with Top 20 showings at IRA National Championships - including a 16th-place showing by the second varsity eight.
For their efforts, two boats - an eight and a four - were selected for competition at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta in England.
The 2023-24 season saw the Owls turn in several high level performances, including top-10 finishes at both the Head of the Charles and Head of the Schuykill Regattas. Another top performance came at the Knecht Cup Regatta as Temple earned gold medals in the V4+ and 2V4+ and silver medals in the V8+ and V4+. At the Dad Vail Regatta, TU placed second in the men's points standings, winning a gold in the 2V8+, silvers in the 3V8+ and Novice/Freshman V4+ and bronze in the V8+. Temple was ranked as high as No. 22 in the IRA Varsity 8+ poll during the season.
Prior to returning to his alma mater, Cunningham spent four seasons as an assistant coach at crosstown rival Drexel, helping the men's rowing to unprecedented success. The Dragons placed a pair of boats in the Top 15 at the 2023 IRA National Championships for the first time in program history. Drexel's Varsity 8 finished 14th in the nation, its best-ever finish, while the Dragons 3rd Varsity 8 also placed 14th for its best-ever showing.
The 2022-23 season was one of the best in Drexel history with the Dragons winning the Head of the Charles and the Head of the Schuylkill before a top-10 spot at the Princeton Chase in the fall season. In the spring, Drexel would post wins at the Occoquan Invitational, Kerr Cup and Bergen Cup regattas, before earning its second consecutive men's points title at the Dad Vail Regatta.
In 2021-22, Cunningham helped lead Drexel to wins at every major Philadelphia region cup, capped by sweeping the V8+, 2V8+, and 3V8+ at the Dad Vail Regatta to claim both the men's points title for the first time since 2015 and the overall points title for the first time since 2018. Drexel also won the Murphy Cup, Kerr Cup, and Bergen Cup.
Drexel also won two gold medals at the 2021 Dad Vail Regatta and the program had its best finish at IRA Nationals, coming in 11th overall. In his first season at Drexel, the Dragons claimed the men's points title at the Dad Vail Regatta, finished runner-up at the Kerr Cup, earned a Varsity 8 win at the Murphy Cup and qualified for the IRA National Championships as a team.
Prior to Drexel, Cunningham spent four seasons as an assistant coach of the Penn men's heavyweight rowing team after joining the staff in the summer of 2014. As the Quakers second assistant, Cunningham worked with the third varsity eight and varsity four boats.
During the 2013 season Cunningham was as a volunteer assistant at Yale. The Bulldogs reached the Grand Final at both the IRA National Championships and EARC Sprints that year, finishing sixth overall in the varsity eight at each competition. He also served two years as an assistant at Washington College (2011-13) and one on the staff at Lower Merion High School (2010-11).
Cunningham, an Upper Darby, Pa. native, earned his Master of Science degree in Sports Coaching Leadership from Drexel University in 2021. He rowed four years for the Owls with his final two seasons in the five-seat of the Varsity 8.
Last season was a return to glory for the Owls, as Cunningham saw his outfit earn IRA Comeback Team of the Year. Given to a team that has shown significant improvement with their perseverance, determination and dedication, the 2024-25 team personified that phrase throughout the season. The top three varsity eight boats were consistently ranked in the top 20 of the IRCA/IRA Top 25 polls all season and put together outstanding performances leading into Dad Vail Regatta.
Facing off against three other ranked opponents in the final, the first varsity eight took home a thrilling win at the finish line to win back the Richard O'Brien - James Hanna Trophy at Dad Vail Regatta for the first time since 2021. The second varsity eight also earned gold at Dad Vail Regatta, as did the novice eight. The top two varsity boats, along with the third varsity eight, all closed the regular season with Top 20 showings at IRA National Championships - including a 16th-place showing by the second varsity eight.
For their efforts, two boats - an eight and a four - were selected for competition at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta in England.
The 2023-24 season saw the Owls turn in several high level performances, including top-10 finishes at both the Head of the Charles and Head of the Schuykill Regattas. Another top performance came at the Knecht Cup Regatta as Temple earned gold medals in the V4+ and 2V4+ and silver medals in the V8+ and V4+. At the Dad Vail Regatta, TU placed second in the men's points standings, winning a gold in the 2V8+, silvers in the 3V8+ and Novice/Freshman V4+ and bronze in the V8+. Temple was ranked as high as No. 22 in the IRA Varsity 8+ poll during the season.
Prior to returning to his alma mater, Cunningham spent four seasons as an assistant coach at crosstown rival Drexel, helping the men's rowing to unprecedented success. The Dragons placed a pair of boats in the Top 15 at the 2023 IRA National Championships for the first time in program history. Drexel's Varsity 8 finished 14th in the nation, its best-ever finish, while the Dragons 3rd Varsity 8 also placed 14th for its best-ever showing.
The 2022-23 season was one of the best in Drexel history with the Dragons winning the Head of the Charles and the Head of the Schuylkill before a top-10 spot at the Princeton Chase in the fall season. In the spring, Drexel would post wins at the Occoquan Invitational, Kerr Cup and Bergen Cup regattas, before earning its second consecutive men's points title at the Dad Vail Regatta.
In 2021-22, Cunningham helped lead Drexel to wins at every major Philadelphia region cup, capped by sweeping the V8+, 2V8+, and 3V8+ at the Dad Vail Regatta to claim both the men's points title for the first time since 2015 and the overall points title for the first time since 2018. Drexel also won the Murphy Cup, Kerr Cup, and Bergen Cup.
Drexel also won two gold medals at the 2021 Dad Vail Regatta and the program had its best finish at IRA Nationals, coming in 11th overall. In his first season at Drexel, the Dragons claimed the men's points title at the Dad Vail Regatta, finished runner-up at the Kerr Cup, earned a Varsity 8 win at the Murphy Cup and qualified for the IRA National Championships as a team.
Prior to Drexel, Cunningham spent four seasons as an assistant coach of the Penn men's heavyweight rowing team after joining the staff in the summer of 2014. As the Quakers second assistant, Cunningham worked with the third varsity eight and varsity four boats.
During the 2013 season Cunningham was as a volunteer assistant at Yale. The Bulldogs reached the Grand Final at both the IRA National Championships and EARC Sprints that year, finishing sixth overall in the varsity eight at each competition. He also served two years as an assistant at Washington College (2011-13) and one on the staff at Lower Merion High School (2010-11).
Cunningham, an Upper Darby, Pa. native, earned his Master of Science degree in Sports Coaching Leadership from Drexel University in 2021. He rowed four years for the Owls with his final two seasons in the five-seat of the Varsity 8.
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