Men's & Women's Cross Country Head Coach
Tim Cornell
Tim Cornell begins his second season as the head coach of the Columbia track and cross country teams after a successful inauguaral season. In the program's first ever season, Cornell coached the men's cross country squad to the American Midwest Conference (AMC) championship in the fall of 2012, culminating in a trip to the NAIA National Championships. He also led the women's team to a fourth place finish at the confernce meet as well. Prior to being hired to lead the Cougars, he enjoyed a successful stint as the director of operations for the Missouri Tigers and is regarded as one of the bright young coaches in the nation, being Level 1 certified by USATF. As an athlete, Cornell was among the elite, qualifying for the USA Track & Field championships in 2009 and garnering multiple all-Big 12 honors. Tim has a background in the natural sciences field with an undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences and a master’s in Medical Pharmacology and Physiology.
A native of Columbia, Cornell is no stranger to the Columbia College campus. His father holds a bachelor’s degree from Columbia and Cornell himself attended high school less than a mile away at Hickman High School. As a Kewpie, he won four state championships including the 2003 & 2004 MSHSAA Class 4 Cross Country Championships.
In taking the job Cornell had this to say, “I have been granted a golden opportunity at Columbia College. This institution has continuously produced athletics teams at the highest level, and Cross Country will be no exception. Columbia is a fantastic community to build a cross country program. We have a wealth of running trails and parks, a population that is highly involved in recreation, and an understanding of the value of a proper education. Columbia College is a perfect pairing for Cross Country and I look forward to sharing this experience with Columbia College and the City of Columbia as a whole.”
Tim's accolades and awards...
- 2009 USATF National Championships Qualifier
- 3 Time NCAA Qualifier
- 3 Time All Big 12 Performer
- 4 Time Missouri 4A State Champion
