PHILADELPHIA - After spending the 2017-18 season as a volunteer assistant coach, the University of Pennsylvania squash program has promoted Dylan Cunningham to full-time assistant. Cunningham played a large role in coaching both the men's and women's teams this past year.

Said Director of Squash and Women's Head Coach Jack Wyant, "Gilly and I are very excited to elevate Dylan from volunteer to full-time assistant coach. He's accomplished great things on the professional tour but made it clear his passion was coaching. Dylan added tremendous value this past season and we expect he will have an even greater impact in the years to come."

Men's head coach Gilly Lane added, "In any organization, you constantly try to surround yourself with talented individuals who will not only push you in a positive direction individually, but the entire group as a whole. Adding Dylan to the coaching staff immediately makes our program better as he embodies all of the qualities that we want in a coach at Penn: hard work, discipline, and a love for the game. Dylan, a star at Franklin & Marshall, continued this success onto the pro tour where he was ranked in the top 100 in the world. Having him as a volunteer assistant a year ago, we have seen the growth in him as a coach and we are ecstatic to welcome him on a full time basis."

Cunningham comes to Penn from Franklin & Marshall where he graduated in three years Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Government and played squash from 2012-2015. A team built on a platform of lateral leadership, Cunningham helped the Diplomats to their best three season stretch in the program's history. He contributed to the team's top-4 finish in the nation in 2014 and two top-8 results in 2013 and 2015.

In 2015 he was awarded the Ron Epps Men's Squash Award which recognizes the team's most improved player.

On top of his collegiate success, Cunningham has worked his way to a #93 world ranking on the professional squash level and has been a three-time quarterfinalist at the U.S. National Championships.

Upon receiving the promotion Cunningham said, "As a volunteer coach this past year I got to see how Jack and Gilly have created an exceptional culture that mentors, educates and motivates hard working student-athletes. Moving into a full-time assistant position, I'm excited to be a part of this culture each day. I hope to learn from Gilly, Jack and the team and to play my part by greatly contributing to Penn's Squash pursuit of excellence."

Prior to being a volunteer assistant last season at Penn, the Ohio native coached and mentored elite level juniors to compete for national titles at the Germantown Cricket Club. He started his coaching career at the Cleveland Racquet Club running private lessons and clinics.