A legendary kicking career is something to be proud of and former Louisville kicker Corey McCullough certainly hasn’t taken it for granted.
But McCullough is now ready to start giving back to kids that are in the same spot as he was just a few years ago at Louisville High School. There’s never been a doubt that he wanted to follow up his football career as a teacher and coach and he’s already put the wheels in motion as he’s landed his first coaching job as the head soccer coach at his Alma Mater at LHS.
McCullough has been student teaching this year with Warren Central and preparing himself to take on that role in the classroom and on the field. After many conversations over the years with LHS Principal Hilute Hudson, an opportunity happened.
“I always stayed in touch with (Hudson) about what I needed to do to be a teacher and a coach. He didn’t think that it was a possibility to come back home, but I told him I’d love to,” McCullough said. “They’ve always had a great football program and I was there when they started soccer. I have a lot of respect for people in that town and I want to come back home to give back.”
McCullough was approved by the board a week ago to be the new coach and coached his first game against Northeast Lauderdale on Thursday. That all happened incredibly fast for a person who is still a part of his football team and finishing up classes at Alcorn State.
The Braves are two-time defending SWAC champions after winning another title this year and are set for the Celebration Bowl against North Carolina AT&T on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Atlanta. It’s been a special season and a special career already for McCullough and he’s finishing all of that up along with preparing for the possibility for a pro career and his teaching and coaching career after football.
“If the next level presents itself, I won’t know about it until May. So I’m making some money right now and getting my feet wet teaching and coaching because that will be my career. I’m getting ready for my pro day and I’ve got a Senior All-Star game. I’m still training to get to that next opportunity, but I’ve got a back-up play, too,” McCullough said.
“It hasn’t been easy. I always joke about the fact that I’m a player at Alcorn and then I go back to Louisville and I’m a coach. It’s really weird. I’ve been having to get stuff ready with jerseys and things like that and finishing up my football career.”
While soccer will be McCullough’s primary sport and one that he knows well, football is where he’s made a name for himself.
It was at Louisville where McCullough began to draw attention from colleges as both a kicker and a punter. In four years, McCullough was 156-for-165 on extra points and hit 18-of-30 field goals with a long of 47 during his junior year. He became one of the state’s most reliable place kickers.
His punting was top notch, as well. He punted 57 times in two seasons with 37.7 yards per punt, 13 punts inside the 20 yard line and 52 yards being his longest. All of that earned him a scholarship at Alcorn State University where he has excelled.
McCullough has helped the Braves to four-straight trips to the SWAC Championship including back-to-back titles and nine-win regular seasons. This will be the Braves’ second-straight trip to the Celebration Bowl and they’re looking for a 10-win season.
It’s been a great experience at Alcorn as McCullough has become the school’s all-time leader in many kicking categories including made field goals at 44. This year he is 10-of-18. He’s hopeful that his career will continue in the NFL or elsewhere, but he’s also excited about his chance to get back to Louisville where it all began.
“It’s been a blessing to be able to play for winning programs. Winning state my sophomore year in high school, coming down to Alcorn and playing for a championship all four years and winning the last two has been a blessing. It’s kind of molded me into what kind of coach I want to be. I have a lot of good records and memories, but I think of the losses and missed kicks as a lesson,” McCullough said.
“Louisville made me and Alcorn shaped me into being a man and the type of coach I want to be. It’s been a blessing to do all of this.”
