Memphis's Brad Cornelsen to become Virginia Tech offensive coordinator
Memphis co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks Brad Cornelsen will be Virginia Tech’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under new Hokies coach Justin Fuente, according to a source.
During his four seasons with Memphis, Cornelsen helped Fuente amazingly transform one of the nation’s most downtrodden programs into a top 25 team. Cornelsen was also instrumental in the development of redshirt junior quarterback Paxton Lynch, who has blossomed into one of college football’s best and is a likely first-round pick in April’s NFL draft should he leave after this season. The Tigers are seventh in the FBS this season in scoring offense (42.7 points per game) and 12th in total offense (510.4 yards per game).
Prior to Memphis, Cornelsen was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Northeastern University in Oklahoma for three seasons. He spent the 2008 season at Oklahoma State working with quarterbacks and special teams.
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Cornelsen was an assistant at Illinois State for five seasons, spending the first four coaching wide receivers and the last in charge of quarterbacks. He was a graduate assistant at Oklahoma State from 2001–02.
A Texhoma, Okla., native, Cornelsen also did year-long student assistant stints at his alma mater, Missouri Southern State, where he played quarterback, and at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.
Virginia Tech hired Fuente last month from Memphis, where he had a 26–23 record in four seasons, including a 9–3 mark this season. He replaces long-time Hokies coach Frank Beamer, who last month announced his retirement at the conclusion of this season.
Beamer has a 235-120-2 record in his 29 seasons at Virginia Tech and will coach the Hokies in their bowl game.
