Bio

For 30 years, De Anza College has been home for Raymond G. Cornell (aka Coach Ray, aka Ray) in various capacities: as a student athlete, coach, faculty member, and now as a classified professional as Equipment & Facilities Assistant.

Cornell was a wide receiver at De Anza College (1990-91) before transferring to play at Cal State Hayward (now CSU East Bay), where he played for the Division-II Pioneers.

After his playing career, he returned to De Anza as a part-time student and earned his personal training certificate. Cornell was a personal trainer for eight years while coaching at the local high school level and at De Anza.

He decided to attend De Anza as a full-time student, during the same time he was a member of the coaching staff. He earned his A.A. degree in Liberal Arts, (2008) – motivating him to transfer back to CSU East Bay.

Cornell received a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with a dual emphasis in Physical Education and Social Justice (CSU East Bay, 2014). In his last quarter, he obtained a 4.0 GPA while making the Honor Roll and the Dean’s List. He was also awarded the “Kinesiology Outstanding Senior Award for Social Justice” due to his involvement within the school and community.

In his spare time, Cornell has played guitar and bass for close to 30 years. He was in a band called, “Chuck Norris Action Pants,” and enjoys attending concerts from arenas, theaters, and clubs to relax. He has the uncanny accomplishment of watching a band and/or artist play live from every letter of the alphabet.

As teen and young adult, Cornell used to work at comic bookstore and still enjoys reading the genre while waiting for the next superhero movies to come out. He also loves to write and perform in comedy/ improv locally.

He and his 1991 football teammate were extras for a Wheaties commercial featuring Bay Area and Nation Football League Legend, Joe Montana; the commercial was filmed here at De Anza College’s old football stadium.

In his current role at De Anza, Cornell is in charge of equipment and materials used in the Physical Education & Athetics Division and maintains assigned facilities. He is also the department's contact for athletics alumni.