Cornwell Named PCS Director of Athletics

Paul Cornwell, whose distinguished career includes over two decades of full-time service as a school administrator, coach and teacher, and nearly 40 overall years in the coaching ranks, has been named director of athletics for Pitt County Schools according to an announcement from PCS Superintendent Dr. Steve M. Lassiter Jr. on Tuesday.

Cornwell succeeds Rob Maloney, who retired effective January 31 after providing nearly three years of leadership at the county level and a combined 22 more as head basketball coach and athletics director at D.H. Conley High School.

"Coach Cornwell's proven track record of success as both an administrator and coach, his commitment to education-based athletics and his deep roots in our community made him an ideal candidate for this position," Lassiter said. "We are confident our student-athletes will continue to excel in the evolving arenas of athletic competition and rigors of academic success."

Included in his 18 collective full-time years at Ayden-Grifton High School, beginning in 2004, are two tenures as a teacher and head football coach, and six years as the Chargers' athletics director. He also served an additional 17 years as an assistant football, basketball, baseball and track coach at AGHS with stints at North Pitt High School and Benedictine (Va.) High School from 1987 until beginning his classroom duties.

Following a three-year appointment as assistant principal at Farmville Central High School (2020-23) where he coordinated the school's testing and school bus operations, along with providing administrative control and direction as the Exception Children's LEA, Cornwell returned to Ayden-Grifton to lead the Chargers' football program and enhanced academic growth as a department chair.

In all, during his combined 17 years as head coach - 2005-20 and 2023-24 - he guided AGHS to seven varsity championships, six junior varsity titles, a regional crown and earned state, area or conference coach of the year honors on nine occasions. Cornwell also implemented two integral initiatives for the continued development of his student-athletes off the field with the Chargers' Core Leadership Program and Community Service Program, the latter of which resulted in the donation of over 9,200 hours of volunteer contributions that have positively influenced the Ayden and Grifton areas.

Along with his sideline accolades, Cornwell has had numerous professional roles and been recognized for his leadership. He has served on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Football Coaches Association and North Carolina Athletic Directors Association, and is a member of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA). Cornwell also played a key role establishing the Eastern North Carolina Football Coaches Association as its Founder and President Emeritus.

In the classroom, he holds a North Carolina license to teach physical education and social studies, is accredited as a School Administrator (K-12) and certified as a Curriculum and Instruction Specialist.

"I am truly honored and excited to be selected as the director of athletics for Pitt County Schools," Cornwell said. "I look forward to working with our student-athletes, coaches, athletics directors and the community to build on the strong foundation of excellence in athletics and education.

"I want to extend my sincere gratitude to Dr. Lassiter and the Pitt County Schools Board of Education for their trust and support. Together, we will continue to promote sportsmanship, teamwork, and success both on and off the field."

Cornwell earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from East Carolina University before following with a master's in school administration, also from ECU, in 2012.

The PCS Athletics Director position has direct oversight of athletics directors (grades 6-12), coaches (6-12), healthful living curriculum teachers (K-12) and driver education contractors.