Kent Austin
The Roger J. Weiss ‘61 Coach of Football at Cornell
Cornell Football Information • Becomes the 26th head coach in school history. • Is the eighth Roger J. Weiss ‘61 Coach of Football at Cornell. • Takes over a team that ! nished the 2009 season with a 2-8 record (1-6 Ivy League). Collegiate Coaching Experience • Served as o" ensive coordinator/quarterback coach at the University of Mississippi for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. • Helped the Rebels to an 18-8 overall record and a pair of Cotton Bowl victories. • Assisted Ole Miss to a 9-4 record (5-3 SEC) in 2008, just one season after the team posted a 3-8 record with zero conference wins, the program’s best one-year turnaround since 1947. • Coached quarterback Jevan Snead, who passed for 5,394 yards in two seasons before declaring for the 2010 NFL Draft. Professional Coaching Experience • Spent 15 seasons in the CFL as a player, assistant coach and head coach, winning Grey Cup titles at each step. • In his only season as head coach, he directed Saskatchewan Roughriders to a Grey Cup title in 2007 and earned CFL Coach of the Year honors. • Served as o" ensive coordinator for the Toronto Argonauts from 2004-06, helping the team to a Grey Cup title in 2005. Professional Playing Career • Had a successful 11-year playing career. • Played 10 seasons in the CFL, enjoying stints with Saskatchewan, Toronto, British Columbia and Winnipeg. • Remains the CFL’s ninth all-time leading passer (36,030 yards), while his .576 completion percentage ranks third behind only Doug Flutie and Tom Clements • Is one of just four CFL players to pass for 6,000 yards in a season (6,225 in 1992). • Won a Grey Cup with the Roughriders, passing for 474 yards in the championship game to earn MVP honors. • Earned a Grey Cup title in 1994 under center for British Columbia. • Spent the 1986 campaign in the NFL with the St. Louis Cardinals after being selected in the 12th round of the NFL Draft. Collegiate Playing Career • A four-year letter winner at Mississippi. • Still remains among the all-time passing leaders for the Rebels. • Ranks second in career completions (556) and attempts (981). • Is third in passing yardage (6,184) and 200-yard games (11). • Ranks fourth in passing touchdowns (31) and total o" ense (6,179). • A three-time Southeastern Conference Player of the Week. Special Honors and Awards • Named to the Academic All-SEC team from 1982-85. • Earned the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete award in 1985 • Was awarded an NCAA Postgraduate scholarship in 1986. • Elected to the University of Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2000. Personal • A native of Brentwood, Tenn. • Earned a BA in Busineess Administration from the University of Mississippi in 1985. • He and his wife Shelley have three kids - Kendall, Kassidy and Wesley.