Coaching Carousel Update: Troy to Hire Western Kentucky Assistant Phil Cunningham

Troy Athletic Director John Hartwell released an announcement Monday night that Troy would hold a press conference to announce their new head men's basketball coach Tuesday morning at 11 AM. That head coach will be current Western Kentucky assistant Phil Cunningham.

The move comes as a bit of a surprise to some, as former Charlotte head coach and North Carolina State assistant Bobby Lutz was expected to be the frontrunner for the job.

Cunningham started his Division I career at James Madison under Lefty Driesell and followed the legendary coach to Georgia State in 1998. In 2001 Cunningham left Atlanta to be an assistant at Mississippi, where he ended up coaching until last year. This past season he spent the year on the Hilltoppers bench and helped the team claim another Sun Belt title.

Cunningham is certainly familiar with the conference after spending last year in the Sun Belt, but the conference is also set to change significantly next year and throughout the next couple of years.

Troy was 12-21 this year under Don Maestri and has not had a winning season since 2010. The Trojans have not made the NCAA tournament since 2003.

Cunningham becomes only the second head coach in 30 years for the Trojans.

See all of the mid-major coaching changes on our Coaching Carousel page.