Upcoming Event: Football versus NC State on September 20, 2025 at 4 p.m.
Football
vs NC State
Football
Cushing, Adam
Adam Cushing
- Title:
- Assistant Coach/Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line
- Phone:
- (919) 684-2635
Adam Cushing joined the Blue Devil program in January 2021, and serves as the run game coordinator. Cushing also coaches Duke’s offensive line.
During his first season in Durham, Cushing mentored offensive tackle Graham Barton and center Jacob Monk to All-ACC honors. Barton also collected All-America accolades during his second year as a Blue Devil starter. The pair anchored an offensive line unit that ranked first in the ACC in sacks allowed (17) and tackles for loss allowed (51). They also helped create paths for four Blue Devils to rush for 400-plus yards, a first in program history.
In just one season as the run game coordinator, Cushing helped Duke set a program record with 31 rushing scores while finishing with 2,394 rushing yards, which were the most since the 2015 season (2,508). In addition, Duke concluded the year second in the ACC in rushing touchdowns, third in rushing offense (184.15) and yards per rush (4.95) and fourth in rushing yards.
He came to Durham after a three-year stint as the head coach at Eastern Illinois University. 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 University, including 10 as the offensive line coach. He also coached the superbacks (2007-08), tight ends and H-backs (2005-06) and served as a graduate assistant working with the offensive line (2004). From 2008-11, Cushing had recruiting coordinators responsibilities as well, twice earning 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 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 The 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 joined the Wildcats after spending two years as an assistant coach at the University of La Verne. He coached the tight ends in 2002 and the offensive line in 2003.
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 a team captain his senior year. He also graduated 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, Ill., and they are the parents of two daughters, Abigail and Dana, and son, Alexander. Cushing served as the lone FCS head coach on the Football Oversight Committee during his time at Eastern Illinois.
THE ADAM CUSHING FILE
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Education: Chicago, 2002 (psychology) and La Verne, 2004 (general education)
Wife: Jaime
Children: Abigail, Dana and Alexander
Birthday: May 29, 1980
CUSHING’S COACHING CAREER
During his first season in Durham, Cushing mentored offensive tackle Graham Barton and center Jacob Monk to All-ACC honors. Barton also collected All-America accolades during his second year as a Blue Devil starter. The pair anchored an offensive line unit that ranked first in the ACC in sacks allowed (17) and tackles for loss allowed (51). They also helped create paths for four Blue Devils to rush for 400-plus yards, a first in program history.
In just one season as the run game coordinator, Cushing helped Duke set a program record with 31 rushing scores while finishing with 2,394 rushing yards, which were the most since the 2015 season (2,508). In addition, Duke concluded the year second in the ACC in rushing touchdowns, third in rushing offense (184.15) and yards per rush (4.95) and fourth in rushing yards.
He came to Durham after a three-year stint as the head coach at Eastern Illinois University. 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 University, including 10 as the offensive line coach. He also coached the superbacks (2007-08), tight ends and H-backs (2005-06) and served as a graduate assistant working with the offensive line (2004). From 2008-11, Cushing had recruiting coordinators responsibilities as well, twice earning 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 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 The 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 joined the Wildcats after spending two years as an assistant coach at the University of La Verne. He coached the tight ends in 2002 and the offensive line in 2003.
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 a team captain his senior year. He also graduated 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, Ill., and they are the parents of two daughters, Abigail and Dana, and son, Alexander. Cushing served as the lone FCS head coach on the Football Oversight Committee during his time at Eastern Illinois.
THE ADAM CUSHING FILE
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Education: Chicago, 2002 (psychology) and La Verne, 2004 (general education)
Wife: Jaime
Children: Abigail, Dana and Alexander
Birthday: May 29, 1980
CUSHING’S COACHING CAREER
- 2022-pres. – Duke (Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line)
- 2019-21 – Eastern Illinois (Head Coach)
- 2012-18 – Northwestern (Offensive Line)
- 2009-11 – Northwestern (Offensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator)
- 2008 – Northwestern (Superbacks/Recruiting Coordinator)
- 2005-07 – Northwestern (Tight Ends/H-Backs)
- 2004 – Northwestern (Graduate Assistant/Offensive Line)
- 2003 – La Verne (Offensive Line)
- 2002 – La Verne (Tight Ends)
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