For coach, it’s all about W’s
coaches have been with him since he took over in 2004. He will also tell you his father played a huge role in his success. Dennis Cornell played three sports at West Allegheny, football at the University of Minnesota and is a member of the West Allegheny sports hall of fame.
But Cornell truly believes another chief reason why winning has followed him at West Allegheny is Palko, the longtime football coach. Palko has won eight WPIAL titles, more than any football coach in league history. Palko didn’t coach Cornell, but Palko has affected him greatly. The 2018 season will be Palko’s last at West Allegheny, but Cornell won’t be taking over. Kim Niedbala already has been named the new coach for next season. That’s fine with Cornell, who said he didn’t want the head coaching job.
“Being under Bob is something that totally changed who I am not only as a coach, but as a friend, a son, a father, a husband,” said Cornell, a special education math teacher at West Allegheny. “My dad helped mold me into who I am today, but so did Bob, just with how you treat people, how you have that family approach and how you relate to kids.
“I think I know X’s and O’s better than most and I thought that’s what made you a good coach. But that’s only part of it. Connecting with kids who want to play for you and respect you, that’s the big part. There is a culture at West Allegheny that Bob helped create and when you go out there and get kids to play multiple sports, that’s what helps.”
Maybe this West Allegheny baseball team will give Cornell yet another title. He says he has had more talented teams and this squad doesn’t have that “shutdown” pitcher that others have had. But that doesn’t mean it’s not good enough to win another championship.
“The thing about this team is it’s just so resilient,” said Cornell. “Nothing seems to bother them.”
Nothing that winning won’t cure.