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Megan Cunningham is an assistant coach on Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh’s women's basketball staff at Eastern Michigan University. Transferring from Canisius University with her head coach ahead of the 2024-25 season, Cunningham is back for her second year as an Eagle. She said she is excited to share the hard work and dedication the staff and players have put in to be the best team they can be.
With years of experience under her belt, Cunningham said she hopes the culture the team has worked hard to create will be showcased this upcoming 2025-26 season. Other assistant coaches on the team shared the same sentiment, explaining that they believe this team has a go-getter mentality.
Q: How long have you been coaching?
A: 2018-19 was my first season in college basketball, so what would that be? Probably about seven years now. This season is my eighth year.
Q: Only being in your second year here at Eastern, what interested you about the EMU position?
A: Well, Shareese [Ulis] and I, we came with Coach Sahar from our previous school. We believe in her as a coach, and there were quite a few reasons behind our move. Overall, I think it was a lot of opportunities that we didn't have at our previous institution… not just for us as a staff, but for our players. We have had an opportunity here to provide resources to our players both on the court and off of it.
Q: Following your head coach is a big deal; there must have been something about being a part of her staff that drove you to make the move with her. What was it about being on Coach Sahar’s staff that clicked for you?
A: It’s hard to summarize everything that makes Coach Sahar such a great coach. I would say the main one, though, is her ability to create an environment for us as an entire program to thrive on and off the court. She cares about each one of us; that doesn’t stop when you get off the court. Not every coach is good at creating that type of environment.
Q: I know last season the team went 2-27, and it was the first year for the staff. What is the key difference about the team from last year?
A: We have had a big overhaul within our team foundationally and worked towards creating the team culture we want. This year we were able to build our team based on that. Everyone is really working towards the same goal. These girls are in it together and focused on winning as a team.
Q: This season’s team has basically been built from the ground up with only two players returning. How did you guys go about establishing this team?
A: Our major thing was recognizing what types of young women and players that we wanted to bring together as a team and build a culture around... [that] is kind of the starting block of how this team developed. Once we found that, it was a clear vision of how we have to move from there. The players we have this year are hungry for wins and all about supporting each other.
Q: One more wrap up question: why should EMU fans come out and support the team this year?
A: There's just synergy this season. They’re a great group of players... and there's just this connection. Not only have we brought on new talent, but they all really want to work for it and connect with the community.
The Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball team will start off their season by playing the University of Louisiana-Monroe Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. Viewers can follow the team's first game on ESPN+.
The first home game for the EMU women's basketball team will take place Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, at the Gervin Game Above Center. Tickets for any of the 13 home games can be purchased online through Eastern Athletics at emueagles.evenue.net. Tickets range from $10 for general admission to $30 for courtside seats.
