Pat Cornelius enters his third season guiding the defensive line for the Worcester State football team.

In his first year on the sidelines at Worcester State, Bryan Narcisse was named a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award while also being honored with D3football.com All-East honors and New England Football Writers All-New England accolades. WSU also led New England in sacks and tackles for a loss due in large part to his work as the defensive line coach.

Prior to coming to Worcester State, Coach Cornelius had two tours of duty as an assistant at Milford High from 1997-2003 and again from 2008-12. He used his wealth of knowledge to guide the offensive and defensive lines.

Following a sensational career doubling as a center and defensive tackle at Milford High, Coach Cornelius earned a scholarship playing center and long snapper at Maryland, helping the squad boast a #4 ranking in the AP Poll with an 11-0 regular-season mark  and an appearance in the 1977 Cotton Bowl.

Coming off an injury, Coach Cornelius transferred to Utah State and started at defensive end during his sophomore and junior years, finishing 1978 second on the squad in tackles for a team that shared the Pacific Coast Athletic Association title. His positional coach was future 25-year NFL head coach Rod Marrinelli, who is currently the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys.

From 1980-81, Coach Cornelius had three professional preseason stints with the Canadian Football League Calgary Stampeders, the CFL Ottawa Rough Riders and the New York Giants.

Coach Cornelius also played in the United States Football League’s Los Angles Express from 1983-85 doubling as a center and a long snapper. During the 1984 campaign, the Express lost in the Western Conference finals.

While in high school, Coach Cornelius was a three-year starter, a two-time league all-star and a 1975 First-team Scholastic and Parade All-American as one of 24 players in the nation. In addition to being named a Worcester Telegram & Gazette All-Star, he co-captained the East squad in the 1975 Harry Agganis All Star Game.

Coach Cornelius and current WSU defensive coordinator were tri-captains on the first Milford High Super Bowl Championship team in 1975.