INDIANAPOLIS -- Joel Cornette, a 2003 graduate of Butler University who helped the basketball team get to a Sweet 16, died August 15 at 35.
Cornette, who helped lead the basketball team to a Sweet 16, died Monday night at age 35. The Cook County (Illinois) Medical Examiner's office announced his cause of death September 1 as coronary artery disease.
Cornette was part of a team that went 100-30 in four seasons. He made three NCAA Tournaments, including the program's first Sweet 16 appearance in 2003.
According to a release from the school, Cornette died of natural causes.
"The Butler Family also mourns the loss of one of our favorite Bulldogs," John Dedman, Butler's associate athletic director, said in a release. "Additional information will be released by the Cornette Family as it becomes available. Please join us in keeping the Cornette Family in your thoughts and prayers.”
You will be missed... pic.twitter.com/Qe30tB3ZML
— Butler Basketball (@ButlerMBB) August 16, 2016
Cornette scored 1,100 points and had 712 rebounds in his career, both top 50 marks for the program.
He had 144 blocks and averaged 54.4 percent from the field, which ranks in the top 10 in Butler history.
After college, Cornette worked as a coach for the team during the 2006-07 season, before working on the University of Iowa's staff. He had been a player-agent since 2012.
Former Butler coach Brad Stevens tweeted the following about Cornette:
JC had a passion, fire, and love of team that you felt every day. He made us all Believe. We love you and miss you already #33.
— Brad Stevens (@BCCoachStevens) August 16, 2016
