Cornish turned in 4 solid seasons with Pioneer basketball
Corey Cornish arrived at Wayland Baptist in 1988 from Midwest City, Okla., where he earned All-District honors and a state championship playing at Star Spencer High School. During his four years in a Pioneer uniform, Cornish would win three NAIA district championships, earn honorable mention NAIA All-American honors, establish four new school records, and join the elite 1,000 Point Club.
In the 1988-89 WBU Athletics Omnibook, Pioneer coach Rick Cooper described the 6’3 freshman guard as “one of the most promising freshman we have ever had.” Cornish went on to play in 36 games his freshman season, scoring 86 points and handing out 51 assists. The Pioneers were 30-6 and advanced to the second round of the NAIA National Championship Tournament.
Cornish’s sophomore year ended in the NAIA District 8 semi-final round. The Pioneers won 22 of their 32 games that season with Cornish playing in every contest, averaging ten points, two rebounds, and just over three assists. He shot 47 percent from the field and 83 percent from the free throw line.
The 1990-91 Wayland Media Guide described Cornish as a “very physical player who has never missed a game in two college seasons… Outstanding defensive player… Excellent ballhandler and leader with penetrating style of play from the guard position.” It went on to say that he was considered one of the best returning players in the district.
Cornish certainly lived up to his reputation during his junior campaign. He averaged 11 points, three rebounds and three assists, was named to three All-Tournament teams, and earned 2nd team All-District 8 honors. As a team, the Pioneers tied a school record with just four losses on the season (the overall mark was 29-4), and they captured the District 8 title.
In his final year as a Pioneer, the Oklahoma native stepped up his game even more. The team won its third District championship in four years, finishing with a 28-6 record. Cornish led the team in scoring, averaging just over 20 points, and in assists, with a school-record 6.3 average. He was honored as a NAIA District 4 Player of the Week and was named to the 1st team All-District squad, as well as receiving All-American recognition.
At the time of his induction, his assist total of 215 during the 1991-92 season remained a school record and his 1,453 career points placed him at #11 in WBU scoring. Other records which Cornish broke or tied during his senior season included three-point attempts in a game (23 vs. Olivet Nazarene in the NAIA tournament), three-point attempts in a season (176), and most assists in a game (14 vs. McMurry).
Cornish spent the 1992-93 school year finishing up his bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and working as a student assistant coach for the Pioneers. After graduation, he followed Coach Rick Cooper to West Texas A&M University where he served for four years, first as a graduate assistant and eventually as assistant coach. He went on to coach as an assistant at Navarro College for two years, before taking over as head coach at Cisco Junior College from 2000 to 2003.
A current resident of Arlington where he works in Internet Car Sales, Cornish and his wife, Brenda, have two children, Todrick Hall and Shayston Cornish. His hobbies include spending time with his family, going to church, and sports.
