Baylor men’s golf added Cory Donnell to its coaching staff on July 12, 2023, giving the program three full-time assistants for the first time ever.
In his first season with the Bears, Donnell helped the Bears reach the NCAA Championship, making the 54-hole cut for the first time since 2017. BU's 14th-place finish was the third-best NCAA Championship finish. The Bears also won the Aggie Invitational for the first time in program history, beating host Texas A&M by six shots. Baylor's fourth-place finish at the Big 12 Championship was its best since finishing fourth in the 2002 championship. With guidance from Donnell, Johnny Keefer polished off one of the best career's in program history, setting the tournament scoring record (198) at the Chapel Hill Regional, lifting the Bears back to the NCAA Championship. Keefer also lowered his career stroke average 71.45 surpassing the previous mark held by Jimmy Walker. Donnell helped Keefer become the first three-time All-American in program history and one of just two players to be named All-Big 12 multiple times.
A native of Garland, Texas, Donnell came to Waco after two seasons as an assistant at Charleston Southern. in 2022-23 he helped the Buccaneers to a win at the season-opening VCU Shootout, besting 13 other teams in the field. The Bucs came up just one stroke shy of repeating as Big South Champions but boasted two All-Big South First Team players and a Big South All-Freshmen Team selection.
Under his guidance, Charleston Southern made the 2021 Palm Beach Regional after securing the conference title, one of three wins on the season. It was CSU’s first postseason appearance since 2015, while two players were tabbed with All-Big South Honorable Mention, and another achieved All-Big South Freshmen Team honors.
Donnell is familiar with Central Texas after playing for two years at McLennan Community College from 2014-2016. He secured All-American honors in both seasons with the Highlanders, leading them to the fourth NJCAA National title in program history in 2016.
On the heels of his stellar junior college career, Donnell headed west to play at Abilene Christian, where he competed in five tournaments across two seasons with the Wildcats.
He also spent two seasons outside college athletics as an assistant pro at Firewheel Golf Park in his hometown of Garland from 2019-21.
Donnell earned his Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Abilene Christian University in 2019. Cory and his wife, Lydia Donnell, met while playing golf at MCC.