Former Utah State men's basketball standout and Utah State Athletics Hall of Famer Cornell Green passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 21, according to an October 23 statement from Utah State University Athletics. Green was 86 years old.
Green was a prominent figure in Utah State history, earning two-time All-American honors in 1961 and 1962. He holds the school records for career rebounds with 1,067 and single-season rebounds with 403, achieved in 1960 with a 13.9 per game average. His 1,890 career points rank sixth all-time at the university. Green was part of the inaugural Utah State Athletics Hall of Fame class in 1993.
During his time with the Aggies, Green helped lead the team to the NIT semifinals in 1960 and to the NCAA Tournament in 1962, a season that resulted in an 8th place finish in the AP Poll, the highest final ranking in program history.
Following his collegiate career, Green was selected in the 1962 NBA Draft by the Chicago Zephyrs but chose to join the Dallas Cowboys training camp instead. Despite having only played one season of football during his junior year of high school, Green became one of the most significant defensive backs in Cowboys history.
Green played 13 seasons in the NFL, all with the Cowboys, and never missed a single game. His career included five Pro Bowl selections, three first-team all-pro honors, and two Super Bowl appearances, including a victory in Super Bowl VI. He recorded 34 career interceptions, a figure that remains tied for fifth in team history.
After his time as a player, Green worked for decades as an NFL scout for the Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos. In 2010, he earned AFC Scout of the Year honors. While scouting for the Broncos, he was part of a staff that helped the team achieve 11 division titles, six AFC Championships, and three Super Bowls.
