Longtime Cornell High School football head coach Ed Dawson suffered a “medical emergency” during its Week 9 game against Rochester on Friday, Oct. 23 and later died after being transported to a local hospital, according to WTAE.
Dawson was a pillar of the Cornell program when he was named head coach of the team back in 2011.
Following his first year with the team, Cornell’s roster numbers shrank, which forced the school to establish a co-op with Quaker Valley.
However, five years after establishing the co-op and serving as an assistant coach and a liaison for Cornell at Quaker Valley, Dawson helped revitalize the program in 2016.
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After the team took its lumps throughout its first several seasons, Dawson led the team to its first conference championship in 36 years and into the WPIAL semifinals in 2019.
Two years later in 2021, Dawson led Cornell to its first outright conference title in 38 seasons after guiding the team to a 7-2 record.
Dawson’s career record was 49-54 across 12 seasons. He was named the Times' high school football coach of the year in 2019.
Prior to his career as a coach, he was a standout linebacker for Aliquippa’s 1992 WPIAL and PIAA championship teams.
While Cornell did not always have the largest of rosters during his tenure, Dawson always got the best out of his players with his infectious energy.
The Beaver Valley high school football community was hit hard with the news of Dawson’s death.
I’m gutted right now. Ed Dawson was a great friend, great coach and just one of the best people I have meet not just in coaching but in life. He cared so much about every kid. I looked up to him and admired how he coached his boys, he was so proud of them. God bless you my friend https://t.co/uIuMWf7MEY
— Donnie Militzer (@CoachMo711) October 24, 2026
RIP Coach Dawson. The epitome of what High School Football is all about. Prayers to him and his family from our Football Family. pic.twitter.com/0Acrzx1ORQ
— Beaver Bobcats (@BeaverBobcats) October 24, 2026
Ed was a great coach, a better person! Praying for his soul and his family and the Cornell Raiders, terrible loss. https://t.co/NbX54HuqM8
— Ron Balog (@CoachRBalog) October 24, 2026
Just awful news. Ed Dawson poured his heart and soul into Cornell. He gave as much as he could to those kids and that program. Great coach. May his family find peace. https://t.co/bVwjk2CMWe
— Andrew Chiappazzi (@achiappazzi_) October 24, 2026
Ethan Morrison is the sports reporter for the Beaver County Times. Contact him at emorrison@usatodayco.com and follow him at EthanMorrison26 on X.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Cornell football coach Ed Dawson dies after in-game medical emergency