Bill Cornell coached the Southern Illinois University track & field and cross country programs for 18 years (1982-2000). During his coaching tenure, Cornell produced four Olympians and built Southern Illinois' track & field program up to heights of success not reached before his arrival. He coached Tommy Turner, who was the first athlete from the Ohio Valley Conference to win an NCAA Championship. In addition to his successful coaching career, Cornell was a standout competitor. When he was 17, he set a world record in the mile for his age group. At Southern Illinois, Cornell was a three-time All-American and earned the SIU Athlete of the Year award in 1962. He also served as the head coach at Murray State University for 15 years (1967-1981), where he produced 24 All-Americans.