BSU's Brooks is Passionate About New Job
Ron Bailey, Publisher
A graduate and definite 'Bowie Man', Brooks embraces challenges.
November 5, 2009 - "I owe everything in my professional life to Bowie State". Those were the words of the school's men's basketball coach, Darrell Brooks, before the start of the recent Maryland Prep Shootout.
In his first year at BSU, Brooks, a 25 year veteran of the college coaching ranks, most recently as an eight year assistant at George Washington (five as the school's top assistant), clearly approaches his job with more than professional concern.
Bulldog Pride just oozed from Brooks as he talked. It's that connectedness that Brooks believes will help he and his staff propel Bowie State to the upper echelons of Division II college ball.
Darrell Brooks (left) with two thirds of his staff (l. to r., Larry Stewart and Ahmad Dorsett) scout players during the Maryland Prep Shootout.
"I graduated from there ('79) and played there" said Brooks, who outside of expanded physical plant development presently, sees many commonalities with the Bowie of then and now. "It was the kind of place where people will mentor you...When I went there I wasn't really the best prepared for college. I had people who cared.".
Brooks, who went on to label the school "a great campus and great school" as well as say several times "I'm very passionate about Bowie State", sees much the same situation today, as the institution boasts "A very, very caring atmosphere and small class size".
Bowie itself, along with his coaching staff, which is "passionate about our guys graduating" (see the 5-on-5 policy, miss a class with no approved excuse, you run five miles, for five days, at 5 AM), will help sell the university to recruits, believes Brooks.
Regarding recruiting - the life blood of any program - his staff has been scouring the District-Maryland-Virginia and B'More areas, and beyond. "It's not just DC/Baltimore, but the entire State of Maryland" in which they "are involved in heavily" said Brooks. The staff must, as six seniors graduate this season.
In the past, the Bulldogs relied heavily on transfers (with mixed success). Some of that will continue, but expect a curbing of the practice, shared Brooks: "They will have a part, but I firmly believe you build a program with high school kids. The CIAA (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) is the best conference in the country, so you have to have to have transfers and JUCOs. I'm not going to take guys in trouble and getting kicked out of school".
Speaking of the CIAA, of which the Bulldogs are the preseason bet to finish third in the Eastern Division, Brooks said "I've studied it, watched it a little...We could come in and be a little different (with their style of play)".
Later he tabbed the league as "well coached. I think it's going to be somewhat undersized, yet athletic. You have to be prepared".
How can fans and supporters expect the Bulldogs to play under its 11th head coach? "We will be a full court team" supplied Brooks, who is well versed with that style of play, as GW largely functions in that manner. "We want to trap you, want to play faster than in years past". Halfcourt settings will likely see Bowie employ a motion offense.
Installing a new system, learning a new roster and conference, adjusting to the head coach role (previously he was head man during 2000-2001 at Western Maryland), and accilimating to the ins-and-outs of Bowie present are not the only challenges facing Brooks, who also cited "getting the job late (July 1st)".
That's a tall order, but when you have a passion for not only the job but your employer, an institution you are intimately connected to, rough challenges seem to lessen.