Cunningham steps down as Waynesburg University’s baseball coach
Perry Cunningham changed the fortunes of Waynesburg University baseball in just three seasons, culminating with a postseason berth this past spring.
Cunningham resigned as the Yellow Jackets’ head baseball coach Tuesday.
Waynesburg won a school record-tying 23 games overall and tied for second in the conference with a 15-5 record in 2024. Its .750 PAC winning percentage matched the school’s best percentage in PAC play.
Cunningham, a Frontier League Hall-of-Fame player, was with the Yellow Jackets baseball program for 17 years, serving as pitching coach and director of baseball strength and conditioning under Mike Humiston, who he succeeded as head coach.
Cunningham, 43, and his wife, Pam, reside in Waynesburg with their sons Cooper, 12, and Cade, 10. The Cunninghams are the owners of Back Roads Energy.
“I just don’t know how much time I’ll have to devote to things you have to devote to in order to win games and for the program to take the next step,” Cunningham said.
Clearly, Cunningham wants to spend more time with his family and sons, who are baseball players. He also is looking to grow his business and continue to secure the futures of his employees.
“I had a lot of fun this summer watching the boys grow and learn baseball,” said Cunningham.
As an assistant, Cunningham worked closely with the Yellow Jackets’ pitching staff, which included Oakland Athletics standout closer Mason Miller.
“He’s done a great job here,” said Waynesburg Athletic Director Tim Fusina. “Perry wants to be around his family more and I support and understand that.
“He was in the process of turning the program around and I felt that after what was accomplished this past season, we are ready to take the next step.”
Waynesburg lost to Allegheny, 4-2, in the first round of play and then were eliminated by eventual champion Washington and Jefferson College, 10-3, in the PAC baseball tournament.
“I just can’t be certain I have the time to complete all that needs to be done as a college coach that would give our players what they need to the next step in the trajectory of the program,” Cunningham said. “I thank my assistant coaches and I appreciate all they did. We don’t have the success we did without them.”
A Steubenville, Ohio, native, Cunningham was a three-time All-West Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Conference (WVIAC) selection while competing at Davis and Elkins College, Elkins, W.Va. As a senior, he was named WVIAC Pitcher of the Year and D&E’s College Male Athlete of the Year.
Cunningham’s coaching career began in 2004 as a volunteer assistant at D&E. The following season, he coached at Liberty High School in Bealeton, Virginia, before coming to Waynesburg for the 2008 season.
The Waynesburg job was posted today on ncaamarket.ncaa.org.
“The position is full-time now and that shows a commitment from the university to the program,” Fusina said.
“We want to climb the ladder in the PAC, which I know is tough because of some of the teams who are always good. We’re looking for a candidate to come in and develop our current athletes with an eye to the future as well.”
Cunningham said he is not retiring from coaching,
“You never say never,” he said.