New Air Force men’s basketball coach Joe Crispin is starting to shape his staff with the addition of Carson Cunningham as associate head coach. 

Cunningham was an assistant coach at Missouri State for the past two seasons. Before that, he was an assistant coach at Army during the 2023-2024 season. 

“I have had the pleasure of knowing Carson for almost 30 years,” Crispin said in a press release Tuesday. “We competed against each other, with each other, and now have the pleasure of coaching together. He loves the game, loves others, and is all-in on the mission of the academy. We are happy to welcome him, his wife Christy, and the entire Cunningham family to Colorado Springs.”

Cunningham, an Indiana native, has two decades of coaching experience, including 15 as head coach. His collegiate coaching experience includes head coach at NAIA school Carroll College in Montana from 2013-18, and then at NCAA Division I program Incarnate Word from 2018-2023.   

In his first year at Incarnate Word, Cunningham led the Cardinals to the top free-throw percentage in Division I (.810).

Cunningham played for Oregon State for one season (1996-1997) before helping Purdue to two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances and one Elite Eight from 1998-2001. The former Boilermaker went on to play in the Continental Basketball Association and overseas in Estonia and Australia.   

Carson Cunningham Coaching Career 

2008-13 – Andrean Catholic High School – Head Coach

2013-18 – Carroll College – Head Coach

2018-23 – Incarnate Word – Head Coach

2023-24 – Army – Assistant Coach

2024-26 – Missouri State – Assistant Coach

2026-Present – Air Force – Associate Head Coach