Washington Informer

Brooks, who graduated in 1979, said he intends to make the graduation of his players a priority.
“Being a graduate of Bowie State, I know what you can achieve in life by having a degree,” he said.
A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Brooks takes over a team that welcomes back nine seniors and loses just one player. One of those returning, 6’7” forward Duke Crews, from Hampton, Va., was named All-CIAA last season. Crews, who averaged 15.5 points and 10.6 rebounds, lead the Bulldogs in scoring 10 times.
“We are excited to have Darrell Brooks as Bowie State’s new head coach of our men’s basketball team and we look forward to his leadership and to generating a new level of success among team members,” said Mickey L Burnim, president of Bowie State University.
Arlene Cook, interim director of athletics, expressed excitement over Brooks’ appointment.
“Darrell Brooks is more than a welcome addition to our sports program at Bowie State. We are proud he is a product of our athletic program,” Cook said. “He brings talent, experience and determination.”
Brooks’ immediate recruiting priority is to add a point guard.
“[D.C. is] a great area for recruiting because of the large pool of talented players from which to choose,” Brooks said.

Brooks envisions his Bulldogs as a defensive-oriented team that applies end-to-end, full-court pressure.

“We’ll really get after teams and make them hurry to do whatever it is they want to do,” he said. “We want to make teams play under duress. If they make a great play, we’ll tip our hats to them.”

A Bowie State assistant coach from 1984-85, Brooks assumes the helm of the Bulldog’s program after eight years as an assistant coach with the George Washington University men’s varsity basketball team. He was also an assistant coach at Loyola University (1997-2001), George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. (1993-97), American University in Northwest (1990-93), The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va. (1988-90), and Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio (1985-88).

Brooks considers the CIAA one of the best Division II conferences in the country and hopes to build on Bowie State’s winning history and tradition. The team captured the CIAA championship in 2003 and advanced to the NCAA Division II Final Four that year. The team went to the Division II “Sweet Sixteen” in 2005.

Currently, Brooks resides in Randallstown, Md., with his wife Sandra. He is the father of two adult children, Aalyiah and D.J., and a grandfather of three.