Head Coach CHRIS BROOKS Head Coach
Chris Brooks enters his first season at UWSP. Brooks spent the last three seasons as the head coach of the Rio Grande Valley (Texas) Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League.
As a player, Brooks lettered four seasons as a player at WMU (1992-96) and finished as the eighth-leading scorer in school history, compiling 57 goals and 127 assists for 184 points. A playmaker with excellent on-ice vision, Brooks led In his three seasons as coach at the WMU in assists four straight seasons professional level, he led the team to and twice captured the team scoring title an 87-86 overall record and playoff (1992-93, 1994-95). He was a member appearances in two of his three seasons. of two NCAA tournament teams (1993-94, In his first season (2008-09) he led the 1995-96) and was the recipient of the team to a franchise-record 35 wins and its CCHA’s Rookie of the Year award in 1993. first playoff series victory. The team was He also received Honorable Mention also named the CHL’s Franchise of the CCHA All-Academic status. Year under Brooks’ direction. That same year Brooks was the runner-up for the Brooks went on to play professionally with league’s Coach of the Year award. stops in Amarillo (WPHL), Mobile (ECHL), Prior to his time at Rio Grande Valley, the Stratford, Ontario, native spent nine years at Western Michigan University, six as an assistant coach and his last three as the associate head coach. His roles at WMU included coordinating the Broncos’ recruiting efforts, preparing scouting reports, evaluating game video, and organizing the Bronco Summer Hockey Schools. He also managed the practice plan and team travel. In addition, Brooks served as an evaluator for USA Hockey at Michigan Select Festivals in 1999. Brooks began his career as an assistant coach at Western and was promoted to associate head coach in 2006. WMU’s recruiting classes from 2002-08 produced eight NHL draft picks. In addition to those players, many others went on to sign free agent deals with NHL and minor league clubs.
Springfield (AHL), and Kalamazoo (UHL). He led the WPHL in scoring and assists during the 1996-97 season, posting 110 points (45-65-110) in 64 games, earning league Most Valuable Player status. After an 82-point campaign with Mobile, he returned to Amarillo and again led the team in scoring (48-57-105) and was the league leader in goals. He also started his coaching career that season, serving as a player/coach, while also being named team MVP and appearing in his second WPHL All-Star Game. Brooks received a bachelor’s degree in communication in 1996 and a master’s degree in communication with an emphasis in coaching in 2007. He resides in Plover with his wife Jeannine, daughter Bryar (12) and son, Barrett (9).
20 sports, 500 student-athletes, 1 Point