(Born August 20, 1941) Brooks’s coaching career started at Oregon State as an assistant freshman coach while working on his master’s degree. After receiving his master’s degree, he moved to Sacramento, California, where he accepted an assistant coaching job at Norte Del Rio High School. He soon returned to his alma mater to serve as defensive line coach for the Beavers from 1965 through 1969 under new head coach Dee Andros.

Brooks rejoined legendary coach Tommy Prothro in 1970 as linebackers coach at UCLA, then followed Prothro to the Los Angeles Rams in 1971 as special teams and fundamentals coach. After two years in the NFL, Brooks returned to Oregon State to serve as defensive coordinator in 1973 under Andros, after previous DC Bud Riley left for the CFL. Brooks returned to the NFL in 1974 as defensive backs and special teams coach for the San Francisco 49ers under Dick Nolan, then went back to UCLA in 1976 to coach linebackers under first-year head coach Terry Donahue, where he helped the Bruins to a top-20 final ranking.

Brooks accepted his first head coaching position in 1977 at the University of Oregon, Oregon State’s bitter rival. At the time of his arrival, the Ducks had not had a winning season since 1969, and only one since 1965. Brooks’ first contract was a four-year deal at $32,000 per year. In 1980 a scandal was exposed from the 1977-79 academic years, and the school was placed on a two-year probation (including a one year bowl ban) by the NCAA for violations in recruiting, misuse of funds and academic standards.

Brooks’ teams dominated the instate rivalry with Oregon State, compiling an overall record of 14–3–1, which kept him popular during several disappointing seasons. In 1989, he led the Ducks to a berth in the Independence Bowl—their first bowl appearance since 1963. Brooks would lead them to three more bowls in his tenure, becoming the first coach in school history to take the Ducks to four bowl games. (The Pac-8 did not allow a second bowl team from the conference until 1975).

His best season came in 1994, when he led the Ducks to the first outright conference title in the school’s 100-year football history and a berth in the Rose Bowl. Brooks was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year, and also won the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award as national coach of the year. His 91 wins were a school record until his successor and former offensive coordinator, Mike Bellotti, broke it in 2006; his 109 losses remain a school record. Brooks left Oregon for the NFL after the 1994 season. His overall record at Oregon was 18 games under .500, largely due to his first seven teams winning only 22 games combined. Nonetheless, Brooks is credited with reviving Oregon’s football program and setting the stage for its rise to national prominence under Bellotti and Chip Kelly.