GPS has named London Cornelius as its new head varsity softball coach starting the 2022-23 school year. She replaces Susan Crownover, who retired at the end of the 2022 season. In addition to her duties as a coach, Cornelius will teach middle school physical education for the Bruisers.
“We are excited about welcoming Coach Cornelius to our community,” said GPS Director of Athletics, Jay Watts.
“She has a great background as both a player and a coach, and we look forward to seeing her connect with our girls when the school year starts in August.”
Cornelius was an all-state player and twice named Region Player of the Year in high school while she attended Creekview in Canton, Georgia. She then played collegiately at Chattanooga State for one year before transferring to play three additional years at North Carolina Central University. In her one year at Chattanooga State, she started 56 games for the Tigers and batted .430 with 24 stolen bases, earning second team all-conference accolades. Once she arrived at NCCU, she made an immediate impact with the Eagles as a two-time team captain while starting in all 93 games during her junior and senior years. During her final college season, she batted .298 while leading the team in runs scored and stolen bases.
As a coach, she started as a volunteer assistant at Broughton High School in North Carolina before coaching as an assistant for her alma mater, NCCU, 2014–17. She then served as a PE teacher and Director of Athletics at Wake Forest Charter Academy in North Carolina, 2018–21.
Cornelius holds a BA in recreational administration from North Carolina Central University and a MAT in physical education and Health from the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
“I am so excited to be a part of the GPS community,” said Cornelius. “I’m honored to be coaching GPS softball, and I cannot wait to get started.”
GPS anticipates 11 players returning next spring from its 2022 varsity roster, including five starters. The Bruisers finished as the Division II AA State Runner-Up at the TSSAA Spring Fling in Murfreesboro in May. Rising senior McKamey Bratcher was one of four players named to the All-East Region squad.