A journey filled with knowledge and learning experiences across all levels of football has become the cornerstone of the Waynesburg University football program. Head coach, Cornelius Coleman leads a program that is in the process of rebranding its reputation within the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.

Growing up in Washington, D.C., Coleman never had the chance to play football due to size restrictions in youth leagues.

“As an inner-city kid in D.C. growing up in the mid-’90s, my only options for youth football were 95 pounds or 125 pounds,” Coleman explained. “I was just a bigger guy. In middle school, I weighed more than 125 pounds, so I never had the opportunity to play youth football.”

During junior high, Coleman explained that his school lacked organized sports due to rampant gang violence and drug activity, so he turned to basketball. He played for several AAU teams as a way to stay active despite the challenges in his community.

It wasn’t until his freshman year of high school that Coleman began to develop a passion for football, with an interaction with a football coach during a middle school basketball practice sparking his interest. 

“I was doing open gym when one of the football coaches asked if I wanted to play football in addition to basketball,” Coleman recalled. “After practice, I thought it over and decided that ninth grade would be the first time I’d put on a helmet and shoulder pads.”

Coleman fell in love with football almost immediately, as he found that it provided a different experience compared to basketball, serving as an escape from his surroundings. 

“Putting on a helmet felt like entering a tunnel and being in my own zone,” he shared.

Little did the freshman who had only played basketball know that the empowerment of wearing a football helmet would shape his life for years to come. After high school, Coleman attended Waynesburg University, where he made connections during his four-year playing career that would ultimately lead him to his current roles.

Coleman’s playing career continued after college, as he participated in several professional arena football leagues. Notably in 2000, he was the standout defensive player for the Dayton Skyhawks, leading the team in sacks and tackles for loss according to the teams official statistics database.

Initially, Coleman had no interest in coaching, as it was never a path he considered. 

“I never wanted to get into coaching at all because I knew nothing about it, even while playing the game,” Coleman explained. 

His perspective shifted when Mike Dunlevy, a former assistant coach during Coleman’s time at Waynesburg, reached out to him about a defensive line opening at Averett University. 

“The funny thing is, I initially turned him down,” Coleman explained.

After a year, Dunlevy contacted Coleman again about the same position. This time, Coleman accepted, marking the beginning of his coaching career at the Division III level. He spent seven years at Averett before transitioning to the Division I level.

In 2014, Coleman accepted a position as an assistant defensive line coach at Robert Morris University, where he worked under former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman and three-time Super Bowl champion, John Banaszak.

Between his stints at Robert Morris and Duquesne, Coleman gained valuable experience with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Panthers. In 2017, he served as an assistant defensive line coach during the Steelers’ training camp. 

Following his experience in the NFL,, he worked as a defensive quality control coach for the Panthers, collaborating closely with Charlie Partridge, their former defensive line coach who is now with the Indianapolis Colts.

After his stints with the two notable football programs in Pittsburgh, Coleman took on the role of head defensive line coach at Duquesne for two years. In his first year, as COVID-19 hit the United States, Duquesne finished with a record of 4-1, with their only loss occurring in the Northeast Conference championship game.

Two years later, in 2022, Coleman returned to a place that he described as feeling like homeWhen asked about his decision to come back, Coleman said, “I came back to Waynesburg because if it weren’t for Waynesburg, I wouldn’t be the man I am today. It’s as simple as that.”

Over the past three years at Waynesburg, Coleman has established a new standard, encouraging his players not only to become better football players, but also to grow into better men.

Junior running back, Zayne Cawley spoke about Coleman’s impact as a coach. 

“Coach Coleman has been more than just a coach to me. We’ve had multiple personal conversations,” Cawley said. “The advice he gives me makes me look up to him as a role model.” 

Cawley currently leads the PAC with 774 rushing yards through six games, including the highest yards per carry and total carries in the conference.

Another player who joined the program during Coleman’s first year is junior wide receiver, Isaac Trout. Trout finished last season with over 400 receiving yards and recently caught his second touchdown of the 2024 season in a 34-14 win over Bethany on Saturday, Oct. 19.He praised Coleman’s intensity and the value he brings to the program. 

“He’s a great coach—one of the best I’ve had—even though he’s more of a defensive-minded coach. I can’t even put into words his value,” Trout said. “He genuinely cares about each of us as individuals, as well as about this program and the University.”

With 18 years of experience at all levels of football, Coleman is now in his third year leading the Waynesburg University Yellow Jackets program. His extensive background has given him insights from countless locker rooms and coaching meetings, equipping him to guide the Yellow Jackets team toward future success.