Eastern Michigan Athletics
Staff Directory
Brown, Cornell
Cornell Brown
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- Phone:
- 734.487.2160
Entering his first year at EMU is Cornell Brown, who came to Ypsilanti after serving an assistant with Bowling Green State University for the 2024 season. A veteran coach with more than 20 years of experience, Brown will serve as EMU’s defensive tackles coach.
Brown brings numerous years of coaching experience at the collegiate and professional levels, along with a distinguished seven-year NFL career, highlighted by winning Super Bowl XXXV with the Baltimore Ravens. His stops include: Bowling Green, Tarleton State University, Marshall University, Norfolk State University, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, as well as stints with the United States Football League’s New Orleans Breakers, the Canadian Football Leagues Calgary Stampeders, and NFL Europe’s Frankfurt Galaxy and Cologne Centurions.
Brown joins EMU after spending the 2024 season as the defensive line coach at Bowling Green, a fellow Mid-American Conference program. During his time with the Falcons, Brown’s defensive line was among the most disruptive in the conference, registering 33.0 sacks for 233 yards and 71.0 TFLs. Under his guidance, lineman Anthony Hawkins posted a career-best 5.0 sacks, while also ranking No. 14 nationally among interior linemen with three passes batted down at the line of scrimmage. Hawkins finished the season with 43 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, and 5.0 sacks, establishing himself as a key defensive playmaker. Brown also mentored Dontrez Brown, who earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® honors after recording 22 tackles, 2.0 TFLs, and 1.0 sack in 2024.
Prior to his time at Bowling Green, Brown spent the 2023 season in the USFL as the defensive line coach for the New Orleans Breakers. Under his leadership, the Breakers’ defensive front was one of the most dominant in the league. Keonte Schad finished the season with 7.0 sacks, while Anree Saint-Amour tallied 6.0 sacks, placing them second and third in the USFL, respectively.
In 2022, Brown coached the defensive line for the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL. That season, the Stampeders led the league with 56.0 sacks, establishing themselves as the CFL’s most aggressive and effective pass-rushing unit. Brown played a pivotal role in the development of Shawn Lemon, who was named Western Defensive Player of the Year and earned first-team All-CFL honors after posting 14.0 sacks. Additionally, defensive tackle Mike Rose was recognized as a first-team Western All-Star, further showcasing Brown’s impact on the line.
Before his time in the CFL, Brown was the defensive line coach at Tarleton State in 2021, where he continued to develop top defensive talent. From 2017-20, he served as the defensive ends coach at Marshall, where he helped transform the Thundering Herd into one of the top defensive units in the country. During the 2020 season, Marshall’s defense ranked No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense (13.0 points per game, No. 2 in total defense (279.4 yards per game), No. 3 in red zone defense, and No. 5 in rushing defense (88.9 yards per game)
While at Marshall, Brown developed several standout players, including Ty Tyler and Darius Hodge, two of the most prolific pass rushers in Conference USA. In 2018, Tyler earned all-conference second-team honors after recording 9.0 sacks. Hodge, meanwhile, emerged as a force in 2019, leading the team with 8.5 TFLs and 7.0 sacks. Hodge earned first-team All-Conference honors in 2020 before moving on to the NFL.
Brown’s extensive coaching résumé also includes a successful tenure at his alma mater, Virginia Tech, where he served as linebackers coach from 2010-15. During that time, he helped develop multiple all-conference players and contributed to the Hokies’ consistently strong defensive performances.
Before returning to Virginia Tech as a coach, Brown gained international experience in NFL Europe. In 2005, he was the linebackers coach for the Cologne Centurions, and in 2006, he coached the defensive line for the Frankfurt Galaxy. That season, he helped the Galaxy win the World Bowl championship, with Jerome Nichols earning All-World League honors under Brown’s tutelage.
As a player, Brown enjoyed a seven-year NFL career from 1997-2004, playing as a linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens and Oakland Raiders. After being selected by the Ravens in the sixth round of the 1997 NFL Draft, Brown became an integral part of the Ravens’ vaunted defense. He played in 108 regular-season games, making 25 starts, and accumulated 147 tackles, seven sacks, and three forced fumbles. Brown was part of the Ravens’ legendary 2000 defense, which led the team to a 34–7 victory over the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV, widely regarded as one of the most dominant defensive performances in NFL history.
At Virginia Tech, Brown was a two-time first-team All-American defensive end and one of the most dominant pass rushers in school history. He helped lead the Hokies to four consecutive bowl games and two Big East Conference championships. In 1995, he was named National Defensive Player of the Year by Football News after leading the Big East in sacks. His 36.0 career sacks rank second all-time at Virginia Tech, behind only Pro Football Hall of Famer Bruce Smith.
Brown earned his bachelor’s degree in housing, interior design, and resource management from Virginia Tech in 2000 and later completed a master’s degree in academics in 2006. His remarkable career earned him inductions into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
Brown’s brother, Ruben, was a Pro Bowl offensive lineman for the Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears.
Brown brings numerous years of coaching experience at the collegiate and professional levels, along with a distinguished seven-year NFL career, highlighted by winning Super Bowl XXXV with the Baltimore Ravens. His stops include: Bowling Green, Tarleton State University, Marshall University, Norfolk State University, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, as well as stints with the United States Football League’s New Orleans Breakers, the Canadian Football Leagues Calgary Stampeders, and NFL Europe’s Frankfurt Galaxy and Cologne Centurions.
Brown joins EMU after spending the 2024 season as the defensive line coach at Bowling Green, a fellow Mid-American Conference program. During his time with the Falcons, Brown’s defensive line was among the most disruptive in the conference, registering 33.0 sacks for 233 yards and 71.0 TFLs. Under his guidance, lineman Anthony Hawkins posted a career-best 5.0 sacks, while also ranking No. 14 nationally among interior linemen with three passes batted down at the line of scrimmage. Hawkins finished the season with 43 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, and 5.0 sacks, establishing himself as a key defensive playmaker. Brown also mentored Dontrez Brown, who earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® honors after recording 22 tackles, 2.0 TFLs, and 1.0 sack in 2024.
Prior to his time at Bowling Green, Brown spent the 2023 season in the USFL as the defensive line coach for the New Orleans Breakers. Under his leadership, the Breakers’ defensive front was one of the most dominant in the league. Keonte Schad finished the season with 7.0 sacks, while Anree Saint-Amour tallied 6.0 sacks, placing them second and third in the USFL, respectively.
In 2022, Brown coached the defensive line for the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL. That season, the Stampeders led the league with 56.0 sacks, establishing themselves as the CFL’s most aggressive and effective pass-rushing unit. Brown played a pivotal role in the development of Shawn Lemon, who was named Western Defensive Player of the Year and earned first-team All-CFL honors after posting 14.0 sacks. Additionally, defensive tackle Mike Rose was recognized as a first-team Western All-Star, further showcasing Brown’s impact on the line.
Before his time in the CFL, Brown was the defensive line coach at Tarleton State in 2021, where he continued to develop top defensive talent. From 2017-20, he served as the defensive ends coach at Marshall, where he helped transform the Thundering Herd into one of the top defensive units in the country. During the 2020 season, Marshall’s defense ranked No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense (13.0 points per game, No. 2 in total defense (279.4 yards per game), No. 3 in red zone defense, and No. 5 in rushing defense (88.9 yards per game)
While at Marshall, Brown developed several standout players, including Ty Tyler and Darius Hodge, two of the most prolific pass rushers in Conference USA. In 2018, Tyler earned all-conference second-team honors after recording 9.0 sacks. Hodge, meanwhile, emerged as a force in 2019, leading the team with 8.5 TFLs and 7.0 sacks. Hodge earned first-team All-Conference honors in 2020 before moving on to the NFL.
Brown’s extensive coaching résumé also includes a successful tenure at his alma mater, Virginia Tech, where he served as linebackers coach from 2010-15. During that time, he helped develop multiple all-conference players and contributed to the Hokies’ consistently strong defensive performances.
Before returning to Virginia Tech as a coach, Brown gained international experience in NFL Europe. In 2005, he was the linebackers coach for the Cologne Centurions, and in 2006, he coached the defensive line for the Frankfurt Galaxy. That season, he helped the Galaxy win the World Bowl championship, with Jerome Nichols earning All-World League honors under Brown’s tutelage.
As a player, Brown enjoyed a seven-year NFL career from 1997-2004, playing as a linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens and Oakland Raiders. After being selected by the Ravens in the sixth round of the 1997 NFL Draft, Brown became an integral part of the Ravens’ vaunted defense. He played in 108 regular-season games, making 25 starts, and accumulated 147 tackles, seven sacks, and three forced fumbles. Brown was part of the Ravens’ legendary 2000 defense, which led the team to a 34–7 victory over the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV, widely regarded as one of the most dominant defensive performances in NFL history.
At Virginia Tech, Brown was a two-time first-team All-American defensive end and one of the most dominant pass rushers in school history. He helped lead the Hokies to four consecutive bowl games and two Big East Conference championships. In 1995, he was named National Defensive Player of the Year by Football News after leading the Big East in sacks. His 36.0 career sacks rank second all-time at Virginia Tech, behind only Pro Football Hall of Famer Bruce Smith.
Brown earned his bachelor’s degree in housing, interior design, and resource management from Virginia Tech in 2000 and later completed a master’s degree in academics in 2006. His remarkable career earned him inductions into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
Brown’s brother, Ruben, was a Pro Bowl offensive lineman for the Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears.
| The Cornell Brown File | ||
| Name: | Cornell Brown | |
| Hometown: | E.C. Glass HS - Lynchburg, Va. | |
| College: | Virginia Tech - Bachelor’s degree in Housing, Interior Design and Resource Management - 2000 | |
| Virginia Tech - Master’s degree in Academics - 2006 | ||
| Family: | Children: Enzo | |
| Coaching Experience | ||
| Year | School | Position |
| 2025-Present | Eastern Michigan University | Assistant Coach/Defensive Tackles |
| 2024 | Bowling Green State University | Assistant Coach/Defensive Line |
| 2023 | New Orleans Breakers (USFL) | Defensive Line Coach |
| 2022 | Calgary Stampeders (CFL) | Defensive Line Coach |
| 2021 | Tarleton State University | Assistant Coach/Defensive Line |
| 2017-20 | Marshall University | Assistant Coach/Defensive Line |
| 2016 | Norfolk State University | Assistant Coach/Defensive Coordinator |
| 2011-15 | Virginia Tech | Assistant Coach/Outside Linebackers |
| 2008-10 | Calgary Stampeders (CFL) | Defensive Line Coach |
| 2006-08 | Virginia Tech | Graduate Assistant |
| 2006 | Frankfurt Galaxy (NFL Europe) | Defensive Line Coach |
| 2005 | Cologne Centurions (NFL Europe) | Defensive Line Coach |
| 2005 | Virginia Tech | Director of High School Relations |
| 2002-04 | Baltimore Ravens (NFL) | Player |
| 2002 | Oakland Raiders (NFL) | Player |
| 1997-2000 | Baltimore Ravens (NFL) | Player |
| 1993-96 | Virginia Tech | Student-Athlete |
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