Columbus State University Athletics

Casey Cornett is entering her fourth season as the head women's volleyball coach at Columbus State in 2016-17.

Cornett was named the head volleyball coach at Columbus State University in May 2012 and was given the task of restoring the volleyball program at CSU after a 32-year hiatus. Cornett arrived in Columbus after spending three seasons as an assistant coach at UNC Charlotte. 

In her first year as a head coach, Cornett led the Lady Cougars to a record of 20-11 and 12-6 inside the Peach Belt Conference finishing tied for third in the standings. Cornett won her first game as a head coach on September 6, 2013 defeating Johnson C. Smith in straight sets. In fact, Cornett and the Lady Cougars won their first six matches of the season. 

After going 5-4 in the first half of conference play, the Lady Cougars won seven of their final nine conference matches to finish the season strong. Additionally, Cornett coached her first All-PBC player in Katie Poole.

In 2014-15, the Lady Cougars posted a 14-15 record against a difficult schedule, once again finishing strong by winning 11 of their final 16 matches. Cornett added two more All-Conference players to her record as Poole and Erika Gelzinyte were selected.

While at UNC Charlotte, Cornett made an immediate impact as she helped recruit and develop a total of five All-Conference players including an All-Freshman and All-Rookie selection.  In 2011, Bianca Rouse was a second team Atlantic-10 Conference honoree after leading the team in kills, digs and points per set.  The 49ers made the conference tournament in two of her three seasons on the sideline and ranked in the top half of the country in RPI all three seasons. 

Cornett was just as important off the court as her teams boasted a 3.4 grade point average in the classroom, the highest amongst all teams at the university.  The volleyball program also ranked first amongst all Charlotte programs in community service efforts.  In three years spearheading the 49ers “Dig Pink” Cancer Awareness game, the program was able to raise over $30,000 and set a single-game attendance record in back-to-back games, each year breaking the 1,800 spectator plateau.  

In her first collegiate season on the sideline in 2008, Cornett helped guide High Point University to a school record 26 wins as they won their first-ever Big South championship.  The Panthers sported a 13-3 conference record, the best mark in league action in HPU history as well.  She helped tutor two All-Big South selections that season. 

In her three years at UNC Charlotte, Cornett served as the camp director while also serving as a lead camp coach and lecturer at several other camps including Wake Forest and the University of North Carolina.  

She graduated from Wheeling Jesuit University in 2006 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology.  A four-year starter at middle blocker, Cornett helped the Cardinals amass a 139-32 career mark and an even more impressive record of 58-2 inside the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.  WJU won four conference tournament championships and three regular season championships as they appeared in three NCAA Division II Tournaments. 

In 2002, she was named the WVIAC Tournament MVP and followed that up with a second team All-Conference selection the following season.  In 474 career games, she tallied 1005 kills for a .278 hitting percentage and registered 481 blocks. 

Cornett and her husband Jehkiah have three children Jace (born August 2012), Nyla (born February 2014) and Emma (born April 2016). 

Cornett's Record Year-By-Year