Bulldog alumnus Darrell Brooks enters his 16th season as head coach of the Bowie State University men's basketball program. The 69 year-old Brooklyn native is a two-time graduate of the University, earning his Bachelor’s degree in Communications in 1979, and his Masters in Organizational Communications in 2019, as well as a two-year letter winner for the Bulldog Basketball team at point guard.
In his tenure here at Bowie State, Coach Brooks has led the Bulldogs to an overall record of 243-219 (132-98 in the CIAA), and has captured five Northern Division Championships as well as the 2013 and 2017 CIAA Tournament Championships. Bowie State has played in three NCAA Regional Tournaments under Brooks, advancing to the 2011 Regional semifinals. Brooks has been named the Bowie State Male Coach of the Year four times (2010-2011, 2011-2012, 2012-2013 and 2014-2015) and was voted CIAA Coach of the Year (2014-2015). Most recently, Brooks became the all-time winningest coach in Bowie State men's basketball program history after capturing his 200th career victory against Elizabeth City State on January 29, 2022. In 2023-24 the Men's Basketball All-CIAA Teams and major award winners were announced and Bowie State's Kevon Corley was named the Rookie of the Year. The award is the first under Brooks in his tenure at the helm of the program.
Before returning to serve his alma mater, Brooks gained a respected reputation as an assistant at George Washington University as a detail-oriented coach for eight years. During his time at George Washington, Brooks helped the Colonials put together four straight tournament years, including three straight NCAA appearances. George Washington also won two A-10 Tournament Championships and ran the table in the A-10 with a 16-0 record in 2006. In that same year, George Washington was ranked in the Top 25 for the entire season, achieving a high ranking of sixth.
Prior to his stint at George Washington, Brooks spent the 2000-2001 season as the head coach at Western Maryland College (WMC). Under Brooks, WMC ranked among the top three teams in the Centennial Conference in scoring, assists, three-pointers made and steals. Brooks spent 16 years as an assistant coach at six different schools including Loyola University, George Mason University (1993-97), American University (1990-93), The College of William & Mary (1988-90), Central State University (1985-88) and Bowie State (1984-85). Brooks also directed his own basketball camp, Camp Austral in Maliano, Spain (1991-1995).
Coach Brooks is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, the National Basketball Coaches Association (NABC), Black Coaches Association (BCA), and President of the CIAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association. Coach Brooks is a member of The Mighty Men of Reid Temple Choir, and the gospel group Spiritual Minds.
Darrell and his wife, Sandra, reside in Randallstown, Md. Their daughter, Kiana, has three children, Aaliyah, Alexis and Devin. Their son, D.J. is a graduate of Morehouse College. He and his wife Danielle are the parents of Adrielle and Daxton.
