Since joining Division I in 2001, the Oakland University golf program has never captured a conference championship.

The women’s team has come close, being the runner-up five times, most recently in 2007.

Meanwhile, the men have never finished higher than third in conference play.

However, with a new leader at the helm of the program, Oakland is on the verge of changing its fortune.

First-year head coach Russ Cunningham will take over both the men’s and women’s golf teams and seeks to help both squads finally climb to the top of the Summit League.

‘Feather in Oakland’s cap’

Cunningham, 40, accepted the head coaching job at Oakland in July 2011. He led both the men and women through the fall season in 2011, competing in events in Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio.

Scott MacDonald, director of athletic communications at OU, said he was thrilled with the hire.

“Coach Cunningham brings a wealth of playing experience,” MacDonald said. “For our coach to be named Michigan Golfer of the Decade, that is quite a feather in Oakland’s cap. If you look at our scores from the fall, you will see an improvement in most of the player’s averages from the previous year. I expect more of the same in the spring and both teams to challenge for a title.”

While in college, Cunningham competed for the Campbell University Camels, in Buies Creek, N.C. Cunningham led the Camels to back-to-back Big South championships in 1992-93.

Cunningham was the 2009 West Michigan Amateur champion, captured the Michigan Mid-Am title three times, won the Michigan Publinx Match Play twice and has been named to the GAM Honor Roll eight times in the past 11 years.

Such great individual success definitely translates to Cunningham’s role as a coach. His past accomplishments give him credence when trying to raise the Oakland banner to new heights.

“The fact that I was a former student-athlete and the experience of playing and competing while also being successful is huge when connecting with players,” Cunningham said, “If you’ve never won, you don’t know what it feels like to be in that situation. I’ve been very fortunate.”

Junior golfer Alanna Gerber agrees. Gerber, a two-time Academic All-Summit League selection, is fifth all-time in school history in career stroke average, and will be a key member of the women’s team this spring.

“Having a coach with such great individual success is valuable because he knows what it is like to be in the position to win,” Gerber said. “The experiences he shares about winning and losing are very important to myself and my teammates.”

Changing the culture

Cunningham is striving to relay that winning mentality to the entire program.

“I want to raise the expectation level here. In the past, the team would be okay shooting under 320 and consider that a great score,” Cunningham said. “Now the mindset is shooting under 300 and thinking that to be a great score.”

That winning mindset goes hand-in-hand with the culture that Cunningham also wishes to bring.

“Developing the culture here is one of my goals,” Cunningham said. “By creating a new culture and work ethic, I can help this program to develop graduates and champions.”

One of the biggest aspects Cunningham considers essential to putting a winning stamp on Oakland is conditioning his players mentally. Recently, the coach had his players meet with a sports psychologist in order to become mentally prepared for the season ahead.

Senior captain of the men’s team, Michael Coriasso, pointed this out about his new coach. Coriasso ranks third in school career stroke average and qualified for the 2011 U.S. Amateur Championship.

“He really emphasized the mental part of the game,” Coriasso said. “He has an influencing positive attitude.”

Cunningham believes his new ‘mindset’ for the program will result in his players exhibiting confidence on the course.

“No one has made a bogey this year,” Cunningham said. “Granted no one has made a birdie either, but everyone is even par. These players have just as much if not more talent than I ever had.”

A generous donation

Already during Cunningham’s brief tenure, the golf program has made positive headlines while promoting the brand.

OU recently received its largest donation in school history, $21 million, from benefactor Stephan Sharf. A third of that donation was set aside for the women’s golf team.

Cunningham believes this particular donation is just one example of how Oakland is on its way to being one of the premier golf programs not only in the league, but also in the state.

“The campus sells itself. We have the best 36-hole facility in the state when it comes to college golf courses,” Cunningham said. “Oakland is continuing to develop itself and stand out.”

Overall, Cunningham calls this opportunity a ‘dream job’ he is fully committed to. With his guidance, the team hopes the Oakland golf program is bound for greener grasses ahead.

—-Contact Timothy Pontzer via email at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @timothy_pontzer