On Dec. 7, 2021, Waynesburg University announced Dr. Cornelius Coleman as the 23rd head football coach in school history.

Coleman is now in his fourth season as head coach and is finally coaching a group full of players that he brought into the program. The first group of players that were brought in under Coleman are now seniors, with only a game remaining in their football career.

“I told them [seniors] in chapel that I’ve been thinking about my time being able to coach them is coming to an end,” Coleman said.

20 players make up the senior football class, 16 of which entered the Waynesburg football program alongside Coleman as freshmen. When they arrived, they were immediately taught the “Jacket football way,” as Coleman describes it.

The incoming freshmen, now seniors, were going to be the class that would incorporate the culture into the program for the next four years as Coleman built the team.

“They are everything,” Coleman said. “They are the guys who knew and understood the vision and have executed it year in and year out.”

Coleman took over a program that had only won nine games in its past five seasons and was determined to establish a culture.

“We want these men to learn and grow every single day,” Coleman said. “That’s what the Jacket football way is.”

Now seniors, the group that were once underclassmen trying to learn and grow, are now helping the younger players get acclimated and help continue the culture.

“They do everything, from helping us recruit the next generation and making sure they leave this place better than they found it,” Coleman said.

The senior class includes five offensive linemen: Dalton Scruggs, Jacob Brisky, Patrick Barber and Isaiah Grenway joined the team as freshmen, while Kory Ansell transferred in as a junior.

“It’s been a pleasure to coach these senior linemen for the last four years,” offensive line coach Russ Moore said. “They’re a fun group to be around, with each one bringing their own personality and abilities and I’m sure that they will become successful adults and contribute to our society in positive ways.”

Coleman also believes that these seniors will be able to be successful post-Waynesburg.

“These are young men that I know will go on to do great things,” Coleman said.

Coleman has implemented a culture of growth, on and off the field, understanding that playing football at Waynesburg isn’t the last stop on his player’s life journey.

“The biggest lesson I’ve learned from coach Coleman is to be responsible as a man,” senior tight end DaGyn Williams said. “Football is centered around doing your job and other people relying on you, and over the years coach has made that a staple for me and how that’s important in life as man.”

Williams plans to pursue a graduate degree as a physician scientist, as he continues to implement lessons he has learned at Waynesburg.

“Coach Coleman taught me that nothing in life is given to you, and you must work for everything you have. Whether that be grades in school, a job, being a father, husband, and the list goes on,” senior quarterback Tommy Burke said. “Being a part of Waynesburg football has genuinely helped me develop as an athlete and as a man.”

Burke plans to attend medical school to earn a degree as a Doctor of Medicine. His goal is to become a doctor, specializing in cardiothoracic surgery.

“This class has a core group of leaders such as DaGyn Williams, John Stewart, Tommy Burke and a bunch of other guys who are not only leaders on the football field, but also ambassadors for the university,” Coleman said.

Coleman now faces the challenge of trying to replace the seniors who have meant so much to the program. However, the seniors already covered that for Coleman.

“There are younger guys that the senior class has helped grow, and now they are leaders,” Coleman said.

Waynesburg will go into the next couple of years, still spreading the culture that this senior class helped start.

“When I first got here three and a half years ago, I took over a program that wasn’t where it needed it to be, and I had to make sure there was growth within the program,” Coleman said. “I see the growth in our young men every single day, and it’s in large part because of these seniors.”