Cornelius Williams - Football Coach - Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

Cornelius Williams

Title:
Wide Receivers
Email:
Cornelius.Williams@mtsu.edu
Phone:
615-898-2926

Updated January 2025

Cornelius Williams, a former standout receiver at Troy, is in his second season as a member of Derek Mason’s coaching staff. Williams serves as wide receiver’s coach.

COACHING HIGHLIGHTS:
At Middle Tennessee, wide receivers, 2024-present
• Date Hired: Dec. 11, 2023
• Guided Omari Kelly to first team all-league honors after catching 53 passes for 869 yards and four touchdowns in 2024. Kelly was also a Biletnikoff Award candidate.

At New Mexico, wide receivers, 2023
• Played a big role in the offense moving from 130^th nationally in total offense in 2022 to 47^th in 2023

At Alabama, offensive analyst/quarterbacks, 2022
• In his lone season with the Crimson Tide, Alabama went 11-2 after winning the Sugar Bowl and finishing No. 5 in the final CFP poll
• The Crimson Tide averaged 41.1 points per game and 477.1 yards of offense in 2023

At Auburn, wide receivers, 2021
• Was on the same staff with Derek Mason

At Troy, wide receivers/pass game coordinator, 2015-20
• Coached receivers all six years and added pass game coordinator title the last two seasons
• His receivers earned 14 All-Sun Belt honors during his time at Troy
• In 2020, Troy averaged 290.2 yards passing per game to rank 21^st nationally
• In 2019, the unit topped the 100-yard mark 11 different times to shatter the Troy school record of seven. Troy also ranked 9^th nationally in passing offense and 18^th in total offense.
• As an offense in 2019, the Trojans topped the 500-yard mark six different times to tie the programs D1 record while scoring 35 or more points eight times
• Team went 10-3 in 2018 and the 2017 squad won a school record 11 games, won the Sun Belt Championship, captured the New Orleans Bowl title and won on the road against No. 22 LSU
• In 2016, Troy had the biggest turnaround in the country with a 10-3 record to go with a Top 25 national ranking

At UAB, wide receivers, 2014
• Blazers averaged 33.2 points and 431.8 yards of offense in his lone season
• WR JJ Nelson was a fifth round NFL Draft pick by the Arizona Cardinals

At Jacksonville State, wide receivers, 2013
• Helped orchestrate a turnaround of a 6-5 team to an appearance in the FCS quarterfinals in 2013
• WR Josh Barge earned freshman All-America honors

At North Alabama, wide receivers, 2012
• Handled the receivers while also assisting with special teams

At Murray State, wide receivers, 2011
• Offense led the OVC in scoring (37.1), total offense (460.9) and passing offense (308.6)

At South Alabama, offensive graduate assistant, 2010
• Helped program to a 10-0 record while offense averaged 439.0 yards and 41.3 points per game

COACHING EXPERIENCE
• 2010: South Alabama (graduate assistant)
• 2011: Murray State (wide receivers)
• 2012: North Alabama (wide receivers)
• 2013: Jacksonville State (wide receivers)
• 2014: UAB (wide receivers)
• 2015-20: Troy (wide receivers)
• 2021: Auburn (wide receivers)
• 2022: Alabama (offensive analyst/quarterbacks)
• 2023: New Mexico (wide receivers)
• 2024-Present: Middle Tennessee (wide receivers)

Personal
• Birthdate: Sept. 6, 1987
• Hometown: Hoover, AL
• Wife: Kiley
• Children: Ellis, Wynn, Maverick

Education
• High School: Hoover High School
• College: Troy, B.S. in Sport and Fitness Management, 2010

Playing Experience (WR)
• Troy (2006-09)

Bowl Experience
• 2006: New Orleans Bowl (player)
• 2008: New Orleans Bowl (player)
• 2009: GMAC Bowl (player)
• 2016: Dollar General Bowl (coach)
• 2017: New Orleans Bowl (coach)
• 2018: Dollar General Bowl (coach)
• 2021: Birmingham Bowl (coach)
• 2023: Sugar Bowl (coach)