Rich Brooks (born August 20, 1941) is a state of Oregon football legend who dominated both sides of the Civil War rivalry as a player then a coach. His leadership of the Oregon Ducks pushed the program toward greatness from the late 1970’s to four bowl appearances.
Brooks learned all about the rivalry playing at Oregon State for the tough-minded Tommy Prothro and as an assistant coach under the charismatic Dee Andros. Rich took Dee’s famous saying that the Civil War was for “The right to live in the state of Oregon” to heart.
The Beavers were 8-1 in his nine years wearing Orange and Black. Brooks was racking up the coaching experience working with some big names, Tommy Prothro, Dick Nolan and Terry Donahue in the college ranks and the NFL.
Brooks wanted the OSU head job in 1976 but was passed over. One year, the Ducks came calling. That job was not an easy one at the time. Oregon had only one winning season since 1965. Two years in, the Ducks were on probation for NCAA violations.
As the decade of the ‘80s began, the wins began to come, especially against Oregon State. Oregon went 14-3-1 against the Beavers with Rich in charge. Sometimes that victory was the highlight of the year. His breakthrough season was 1989 when the Ducks advanced to and won the Independence Bowl, their first bowl trip in 26 years. Brooks would lead Oregon 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.
Brooks left Oregon for the NFL after the 1994 season. His overall record at Oregon was 91-109-4, but he set the table for continued success under Mike Bellotti and Chip Kelly. After six seasons as head coach in Atlanta and offensive coordinator in St. Louis, Rich returned to college coaching. He performed another revival, this time at Kentucky, where in seven seasons, he accumulated four winning records and bowl trips.
Rich Brooks is a member of the University of Oregon and University of Kentucky Athletics halls of fame. The field at Autzen Stadium in Eugene bears his name.