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LITTLEFIELD —- Years ago, Paul Cornwell was
playing his fair share of sports at Ayden-Grifton High School,
dreaming of the day he would become head football coach for his alma
mater.
On Tuesday afternoon, that dream became a
reality as 35-year-old Cornwell was announced Ayden-Grifton’s new
head coach by Athletic Director Kathy Frazier.
Cornwell replaces longtime coach and Ayden native, B.T. Chappell,
who coached Charger Football for 18 seasons.
Cornwell played football, basketball and track while attending
Ayden-Grifton High School. He was on the 1986 Conference
Championship basketball and football team.
From 1987 until 1990, Cornwell was an assistant coach at
Ayden-Grifton, where he was a part of the 1987 and 1988 Conference
Championship team.
From 1992 until 2002, Cornwell was assistant coach at North Pitt
High School, where he then moved on to coach at a school in
Virginia.
In 2004, Cornwell returned to his stomping grounds to work in the
Physical Education Program. Tuesday, Cornwell took over the position
of head coach for Charger Football.
"It’s good to be home," Cornwell said. "I’m very proud to accept the
opportunity to be the next head coach at Ayden-Grifton."
Cornwell went over his wishes for this coming season, which
including bridging the gap between the community and school.
Community involvement, Cornwell said, is very important.
"I know there’s a lot of potential with this school and community."
Cornwell said he hoped to instill five principles in his athletes,
which included discipline, effort, execution, responsibility and
accountability. Many are quick to blame someone else when they fail,
Cornwell said. He hopes to change that attitude this season.
Cornwell said he anticipated adding a few more to his coaching staff
and said that many of the same will come back this season.
"I hope we can continue to move forward," Cornwell said. "It’s
always been my dream to be a head coach."
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