With encouragement from the late NFL veteran Gary Brown and her NCAA Champions Forum experience, Wisconsin alum is chasing her dreams and mentoring others
Ashley Cornwell never leaves home without it.
Tucked in her wallet, still in mint condition, is his football card — a small rectangle of cardboard. It’s more than just a piece of memorabilia; it’s a symbol of their bond and a testament to the impact he had on her life. On the card, in a dirt-stained white uniform, he is frozen midstride with the football tucked under his left arm.
She keeps it close to her heart as a daily reminder of the promise she made to him.
“He said, ‘Just promise me when you make it, you’ll pay it forward,’” Cornwell said. “I was super bummed when he passed away because he didn’t get to see me do my first NFL internship, and even though he wasn’t able to call anybody for me, that’s the whole pay-it-forward thing. That’s where it came from. I always have to make sure I mention him in anything that I do because just for his memory and to honor him.”
Cornwell was speaking about Gary Brown, one of the biggest influences in her fledgling coaching career. He was more than just a coach to her: He was a mentor, a guide and a friend. The former Wisconsin running backs coach and eight-year NFL veteran died of cancer in 2022. Brown’s words, generosity and belief in her fueled Cornwell’s rise — from a student assistant at her alma mater, Wisconsin, to coaching positions at Oberlin, Bucknell, Central State (Ohio) and now the University of Northern Colorado where she is a volunteer assistant coach working with the offensive line.
The spark
Cornwell received her first collegiate coaching opportunity at Wisconsin while completing her bachelor’s degree in political science and international studies. She started in the football video department, moved into recruiting and eventually earned a student assistant coaching role, demonstrating a dash of persistence and pinch of determination along the way.
“I remember one conversation after practice,” Cornwell said. “It was just me and him in the elevator going up to the eighth floor. I told him I wanted to coach in the NFL and be a head coach someday. He looked at me and said, ‘Ashley, you can do it — not because you’re female and someone’s going to hire you as a PR stunt, but because you work hard, you care about the players, and you’re detailed with what you do.’ He was a champion for me.”
Cornwell participated in the NFL Women’s Forum in 2022 and 2023 and earned Bill Walsh Fellowships with the Tennessee Titans (2022), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2023) and Washington Commanders (2024).
‘Chasing this calling’
Cornwell was also one of 25 NCAA football coaches selected for the NCAA Champions Forum and one of 25 coaches selected for the 2024 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coaching Academy. She presented at the 2024 American Football Coaches Association convention on offensive line pass protection techniques and at the 2025 National Coalition of Minority Football Coaches on run game philosophy.
“I learned that I didn’t know as much as I thought I did,” Cornwell said with a laugh when reflecting on lessons from attending the NCAA Champions Forum. “You can dream about being a head coach or one of the best O-line coaches ever, but sometimes you just don’t know what you don’t know. That was the biggest thing — it opened my eyes to how much more I had to learn. However, it also provided me with the framework and tools to grow, which is exciting, even if it can feel overwhelming. And that’s true for my players, as well. You always need those moments that challenge you and show you the work still ahead. That perspective makes me even more confident in chasing this calling. … Gary Brown set the standard for paying it forward.”
Her purpose is to leave something better than she found it.
With Brown’s football card as her anchor, she does that with every player she mentors and every program she helps build because Cornwell knows she’s keeping that promise every step of the way.
