Gillispie Names Brooks to Coaching Staff
Apr 07, 2004 | Men's Basketball
April 07, 2004
Former University of Houston head coach Alvin Brooks has been named an assistant men's basketball coach at Texas A&M, head coach Billy Gillispie said Wednesday. Brooks was a member of Gillispie's staff at Texas-El Paso last season.
"Alvin is one of the most outstanding coaches and recruiters in college basketball," Gillispie said. "He's unbelievable in his relationships with young people. Alvin is one of the best coaches I've ever been around and, along with his family, will be a tremendous asset to the community as well as our basketball program. When I took the job here, I wanted to target the Houston area in recruiting and there's no one better for that purpose than Alvin. I'm very pleased that he has joined our staff."
Last season, Brooks helped Gillispie engineer one of the best single-season turnarounds in college basketball history. After finishing 6-24 the previous season, the Miners went 24-8, won a share of the Western Athletic Conference championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 12 years.
Prior to accepting the UTEP job in August 2003, Brooks was an assistant at the University of North Texas from 2001-03. North Texas fashioned a 15-14 record in 2001-02, its first winning season in six years. Brooks also has experience in the Big 12 Conference, serving as an assistant to James Dickey at Texas Tech from 1999-01.
Brooks, 45, compiled a 54-84 record as the head coach at Houston from 1993-98. His stint with the Cougars included a 17-10 record and a second-place Southwest Conference finish in 1995-96. The Cougars recorded wins over No. 3-ranked Memphis and No. 19 Tulsa during his tenure. He served as an assistant coach at Houston under Pat Foster from 1986-93 and began his coaching career as an assistant under Foster at Lamar from 1982-86.
"I'm excited about the opportunity to work at such a prestigious university as Texas A&M as well as continuing to work with Billy Gillispie, who is one of the great minds in the game," Brooks said. "Having been born and raised in Houston, this is my natural base in terms of relationships and recruiting ties. I'm also thrilled about being back in the Big 12, which is one of the great conferences in college basketball."
Brooks has 22 years of collegiate coaching experience and has been affiliated with 12 postseason tournament teams as a coach and player. He has tutored 10 players who went on to play in the NBA.
A 1982 graduate of Lamar, he was a two-year letterwinner for the Cardinals (1979-80, 1980-81), averaging 10.4 points and 6.9 assists per game in his career. He earned second-team All-Southland Conference honors in 1981 after setting school records for assists in a game (21), season (249) and career (432). The starting point guard on Lamar's 1979-80 team that reached the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament, Brooks was named one of the top five players in Lamar basketball history by the Beaumont Enterprise. He was drafted by the NBA's San Antonio Spurs in 1981.
Brooks was named the Lone Star Conference Freshman of the Year while playing at Sam Houston State in the 1977-78 season. He was a standout prep player at powerful Wheatley High School in Houston, where he averaged 25.9 points and nine assists per game and earned all-city recognition.
Brooks and his wife, Richelle, have two sons, Casey and Julian.
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