Ashley Cornwell, now a coach at Central State University in Ohio, keeps a weather‑worn football card of Gary Brown in her pocket, a tangible reminder of the man who first believed in her and of the promise she made to pay his encouragement forward.
Brown, a Wisconsin native who spent eight seasons as an NFL running backs coach and later served the Badgers in the same capacity, died of cancer in 2022. His steadfast belief in Cornwell’s abilities pushed her to pursue a dream that many considered unattainable.
Her coaching trajectory began in the video department at Wisconsin, where she absorbed the nuances of game preparation. She soon transitioned to a student‑assistant role, then held positions at Oberlin and Bucknell before landing at Central State, each step marked by the same relentless work ethic that Brown had praised.
Breaking Barriers on the Coaching Stage
Cornwell’s profile rose after she participated in the NFL Women’s Forum in 2022 and 2023 and earned Bill Walsh Fellowships with the Tennessee Titans, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Washington Commanders. In 2024 she was selected for the NCAA Champions Forum and the Buccaneers Coaching Academy, and she presented on offensive‑line pass protection at the American Football Coaches Association convention.
At the 2025 National Coalition of Minority Football Coaches she will speak about run‑game philosophy, and she says the lessons from the Champions Forum taught her that coaching is a continuous learning process. Her ultimate goal is to leave a positive imprint on every player she mentors, honoring Brown’s legacy by paying it forward.