| COACHING EXPERIENCE |
| Years |
School, Position |
| 2023-Pres. |
Sam Houston - Offensive Coordinator |
| 2016-22 |
Virginia Tech - Offensive Coordinator |
| 2015 |
Memphis - Offensive Coordinator |
| 2012-14 |
Memphis - Quarterbacks |
| 2009-11 |
Northeastern State - Offensive Coordinator |
| 2008 |
Oklahoma State - Quality Control |
| 2007 |
Illinois State - Quarterbacks |
| 2003-06 |
Illinois State - Wide Receivers |
| 2002 |
Oklahoma State - Graduate Assistant |
| 2001 |
Oklahoma State (fall) - Graduate Assistant |
| 2001 |
Northeastern State (spring) - Graduate Assistant |
| 2000 |
Northeastern State - Student Assistant |
| 1999 |
Missouri Southern State - Student Assistant |
| Bowl Games / Playoffs Coached (8 games) |
| Year |
Bowl / School |
| 2019 |
Belk Bowl / Virginia Tech |
| 2018 |
Military Bowl / Virginia Tech |
| 2017 |
Camping World Bowl / Virginia Tech |
| 2016 |
Belk Bowl / Virginia Tech |
| 2015 |
Birmingham Bowl / Memphis |
| 2014 |
Miami Beach Bowl / Memphis |
| 2008 |
Holiday Bowl / Oklahoma State |
| 2007 |
FCS Playoffs / Illinois State |
| 2002 |
Houston Bowl / Oklahoma State |
Brad Cornelsen will be in his second season directing the Bearkat offense in 2024.
Cornelsen joined the Bearkats prior to the 2023 season after serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterback's coach at Virginia Tech for six seasons. Under his tutelage, the Hokies produced three of Virginia Tech's top four seasons for total offense over the previous 25 years, compiling 444.4 yard per game in 2016, 440.7 in 2020 and 428.7 in 2018 seasons.
The Hokies averaged 7.7 yards per touch in 2020 which was the team's best mark since that stat began being tracked in 1996. VT also set a school record, averaging 5.58 yards per carry in 2020, a mark that ranked fourth among Power Five squads.
Cornelsen's offensive squad led the ACC with 240.1 rushing yards per game in 2020, the team's best mark since 2000. The Hokies also totaled 27 rushing TDs that season which was the most in a decade.
Virginia Tech's passing attack also shined under Cornelsen. The Hokies set a school single season record for completion percentage (62.2) in 2020, and the three top seasons for passing yardage came in 2016 (261.4), 2018 (253.8) and 2017 (239.5).
The Hokies set a school single-season record for completion percentage (62.2) in 2020, while the three top seasons for passing yardage per game have also come under Cornelsen’s guidance: 261.4 ypg in 2016, 253.8 ypg in 2018 and 239.5 ypg in 2017.
Three of Tech’s top seven team seasonal totals for TD passes have also came during Cornelsen’s tenure - 31 in 2016, 29 in 2018 and 24 in 2019. He also oversaw three of the top four single-season receiving performances in school history - Isaiah Ford (1,094 yards in 2016) and Cam Phillips (983 in 2016 & 964 in 2017).
Under Cornelsen’s direction, Virginia Tech tied or broke 10 offensive single-season records in 2016: points (490), total TDs (61), first downs (330), passing first downs (172), TD passes (31), total offense (6,223), completion pct. (62.1%), passing yards (3,660), pass completions (279) and total plays (1,087).
He also helped quarterback Jerod Evans register one of the most productive seasons of any quarterback in school annals in 2016. Evans set eight single-season school records, including total offense (4,392), passing yards (3,546), TD passes (29), total TDs accounted for (41) and rush yards by a QB (846).
He joined the staff in Blacksburg after four seasons at Memphis where he, along with current Tech head coach Justin Fuente, helped take a Memphis program that had gone 3-21 in the two seasons prior to their arrival to a squad that went 19-7 and earned back-to-back bowl berths in 2014-15.
During his final two campaigns for the Tigers, QB Paxton Lynch completed 64.8 percent (555 of 856) of his passes for 6,807 yards with 50 TDs and 13 INTs (147.9 rating). By contrast, in the three seasons (2009-11) prior to Lynch’s arrival at Memphis, the Tigers compiled a 5-31 record, threw for 7,182 yards with 37 TDs and 36 INTs.
Under Cornelsen’s tutelage in 2015, Lynch threw for 3,776 yards, with 28 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He tied an FBS record with seven touchdown passes in the first half of Memphis’ 63-0 victory over SMU. In 2015, Memphis finished 11th nationally in scoring offense (40.2 ppg). The Tigers also converted 48.8 percent (101 of 207) on third down to rank eighth in the FBS.
In 2014-15, the Tigers averaged 185.0 rushing ypg and scored 60 TDs on the ground, producing 11 games with 200 or more net rushing yards. The Tigers set a school record for points in consecutive seasons (993 in 2014-15) and boasted a +19 turnover differential (53 takes/34 gives) over that timeframe.
In 2014, Lynch guided the Tigers to a Miami Beach Bowl win over BYU. Lynch was the MVP after throwing four TDs and running for three more TDs, tying an FBS record for touchdowns responsible for in a bowl game.
Prior to Memphis he spent three years as the offensive coordinator at Northeastern State. In 2011, NSU receiver Trey McVay became a first-team All-America pick, catching 82 passes for 1,533 yards. His 16-catch, 425-yard performance vs. Harding set an NCAA single-game record at any level.
Cornelsen spent the 2008 season as a quality control at Oklahoma State after four seasons at Illinois State. In 2005 he helped Laurent Robinson become an All-America selection. His 292-yard game against Indiana State in 2005 still stands as a conference record.
He spent the spring of 2001 at NW Missouri State working as a graduate assistant under College Football Hall of Fame head coach Mel Tjeerdsma before taking a similar role at Oklahoma State in the fall.
Cornelsen's father, Bruce, two uncles and several cousins comprise a Cornelsen coaching family tree that has been synomyous with successful football at the college and high school levels in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas.
