THE CUSHING FILE

PERSONAL

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Education: University of Chicago, 2002
Wife: Jaime
Children: Abigail, Dana, Alexander

COACHING RESUME

2002: La Verne (Tight Ends)
2003: La Verne (Offensive Line)
2004: Northwestern (Graduate Assistant/Offensive Line)
2005-07: Northwestern (Tight Ends/H-Backs)
2008: Northwestern (Superbacks/Recruiting Coordinator)
2009-11: Northwestern (Offensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator)
2012-18: Northwestern (Offensive Line)
2019-21: Eastern Illinois (Head Coach)
2022-23: Duke (Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line)
2024-: Texas A&M (Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line)

POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE

2005: Northwestern (Sun)
2008: Northwestern (Alamo)
2009: Northwestern (Outback)
2010: Northwestern (TicketCity)
2011: Northwestern (Meineke Car Care)
2012: Northwestern (Gator)
2015: Northwestern (Outback)
2016: Northwestern (Pinstripe)
2017: Northwestern (Music City)
2018: Northwestern (Holiday)
2022: Duke (Military)
2023: Duke (Birmingham)
2024: Texas A&M (Las Vegas)

Adam Cushing joined the Texas A&M football staff in January 2024, and serves as the run game coordinator and offensive line coach. Cushing came to Aggieland after two seasons in the same role on Elko’s staff at Duke.

In 2024, Cushing guided an Aggie offensive line that ranked 10th in the country, allowing just 51.0 tackles for loss on the year, while clearing the way for the No. 2 rushing offense in the SEC as it averaged 195.5 yards per game. He helped lead the Aggies to an 8-5 record, including a program-best 5-0 start to SEC play, and an appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl in 2024.

Cushing made an immediate impact in his first season in Durham as the offensive line helped set a Duke program record with 31 rushing touchdowns, while finishing with 2,394 rushing yards. Duke concluded the 2022 season ranking second in the ACC in rushing scores, third in rushing offense (184.2 ypg) and yards per rush (4.9) and fourth in total rushing yards.

In 2023, the Blue Devils ranked second in fourth-down conversion percentage (.632) and 27th in the nation, while ranking fourth in rushing touchdowns (25) and yards per rush (4.9) in the ACC.

Individually, Cushing mentored offensive tackle Graham Barton to All-ACC honors in 2022 and 2023, as well as All-America accolades in 2023. Center Jacob Monk earned All-ACC recognition in 2022, following a season where the pair anchored an offensive line unit that ranked first in the ACC in sacks allowed (17.0) and tackles for loss allowed (51.0).

Cushing served a three-year stint as the head coach at Eastern Illinois from 2019-21. While with the Panthers, Cushing mentored 13 players to 16 All-Ohio Valley Conference honors, including three-time selection Jason Johnson. He also coached three All-Americans in Johnson, Chad Strickland, and JJ Ross.

In 2021, the Panthers ranked No. 2 in FCS in fumbles recovered (14), 15th in kickoff return defense (16.44) and 28th in team tackles for loss per game (6.5). A year prior, Eastern Illinois finished second in kick return defense (10.31), ninth in blocked kicks (3), 22nd in punt returns (10.25) and 23rd in kick returns (23.00). During his first year as a head coach in 2019, Cushing’s team led the country in fourth-down conversions (28), while ranking 22nd in fewest penalties per game (5.08) and 30th in total defense (350.6).

Prior to his tenure at Eastern Illinois, Cushing spent 15 seasons in a variety of roles at Northwestern, including 10 seasons as the offensive line coach. He also coached the superbacks (2007-08), tight ends and H-backs (2005-06), after beginning as a graduate assistant with the offensive line (2004). Cushing earned national recognition as one of the Big Ten’s top recruiters (Rivals.com, 2007 and ESPN.com, 2009).

During his time in Evanston, Cushing helped lead the Wildcats to the Big Ten Conference West Division title in 2018. That season was capped by the team’s 31-20 win over No. 17 Utah in 2018 Holiday Bowl. In total, Cushing was on staff at Northwestern for 10 bowl games.

While at the helm of the offensive line, his unit blocked for five 1,000-yard rushers, including one of the most productive running backs in program history in Justin Jackson. He became just the second player in Big Ten history to rush for 1,000 yards in four-straight seasons, finishing his career as the program’s all-time leader in rushing yards with 5,440.

Cushing’s group was also stout when it came to protecting quarterbacks. The offensive line blocked for Clayton Thorson, who finished his career setting program records for passing touchdowns (61), attempts (1,696) and completions (991). Thorson ranked second in total yards (11,139) as well. During the 2010 Outback Bowl, eventual fourth-round NFL Draft pick quarterback Mike Kafka posted a record-breaking offensive performance when he threw for a school-record 532 yards. Northwestern also broke the NCAA record for offensive plays in a game (115) during that contest.

In addition, Cushing mentored seven All-Big Ten offensive line selections and eight NFL offensive linemen, including right tackle Rashawn Slater, who would go on to be the No. 13 overall selection by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2021 NFL Draft and a 2022 All-Pro Bowl choice as a rookie.

As the Wildcats’ superbacks coach, Cushing guided Drake Dunsmore to Freshman All-Big Ten honors by Sporting News in 2007. Dunsmore, who was selected in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ranked third on the team with 12.8 yards per catch among players with 10 or more catches, picking up 141 yards on 11 receptions.

Cushing began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant coach at Division III La Verne (Calif.), where he spent the 2002 season with the tight ends and 2003 season with the offensive line.

As a player, Cushing was a three-year starter at tight end at the University of Chicago, where he was named a three-time All-University Athletic Association recipient (1999-2001). He helped the Maroons win UAA titles in 1998 and 2000 and was selected as a team captain his senior year. He also finished his career third in program history with 72 career receptions.

A native of Chicago, Cushing graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Chicago in 2002. He then went on to earn his master’s degree in general education from La Verne in 2004.

Cushing is married to the former Dr. Jaime Bissegger, of Naperville, Illinois, and they are the parents of two daughters, Abigail and Dana, and son, Alexander.