It took a few weeks, but the 10th head coach in the history of the women’s basketball program at Utah State University has been found.
Monday evening the Aggies sent out an email announcing the hiring of Wesley Brooks as the head coach of the women’s program. USU Athletics Director Diana Sabau hired him guide the Aggies into the 37th season of the program.
Brooks and recently hired men’s head basketball coach Jerrod Calhoun will both be introduced Tuesday morning on campus at a press conference, which will be held inside the Wayne Estes Center. It is open to the public and media, and free parking will be available in the lots just north of the Estes Center.
Sabau, who was hired last summer from Ohio State, went back to the Buckeyes for this hire. Brooks has been an assistant coach at Ohio State the past three seasons on the staff of Kevin McGuff.
“Wesley is a great developer of people, not only as high-preforming student-athletes, All-Americans and professionals, but as young women in society,” Sabau said in a press release. “Under his leadership, we look forward to advancing the trajectory of women’s basketball at Utah State University.”
Brooks will take over a program that has struggled. Kayla Ard was let go with one year left on a five-year contract when the Aggies lost in the first round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament on March 10, against Boise State, 85-49. USU finished at the bottom of the league this past season, going 5-25 overall and 2-16 in MW play. The Aggies began the season 3-3, then went on a 13-game losing streak.
Brooks brings 20 years of collegiate experience with him to USU. He previously worked as an assistant at Michigan, Utah, North Texas, Texas Southern and Robert Morris, and as a graduate assistant and director of basketball operations at West Virginia. In all, he has helped 11 teams to postseason berths with eight NCAA Tournament appearances, including in each of the past six years.
“I am thankful and honored that Diana and President (Elizabeth) Cantwell have given me the opportunity to lead the Utah State women’s basketball program,” Brooks said in a press release. “I am excited and look forward to establishing a program that Aggie nation can be proud of. Our goal is to win championships. Yohanna (wife), Elsa (daughter) and I look forward to settling into the Logan community.”
Over the past three seasons, Ohio State has won two Big Ten regular season titles and made three straight trips to the NCAA Tournament. Brooks was on the staff when the Buckeyes made the Sweet Sixteen in 2022, the Elite Eight in 2023 and the second round in 2024.
During Brooks’ time in Columbus, Ohio State compiled a 79-21 overall record with a 42-12 mark in Big Ten play. During that span, the Buckeyes lost just three regular season games to teams ranked outside of the AP Top 25.
“We are thrilled to welcome Wesley and his family to Utah State University,” USU President Elizabeth Cantwell said in a press release. “He has coached and recruited at a high level and we are confident in his ability to raise our program.”
Prior to his time at Ohio State, Brooks spent four seasons at Michigan (2018-21), where he primarily worked with the team’s guards and wings. The Wolverines earned three-straight trips to the NCAA Tournament and were poised to qualify for the 2020 NCAA Tournament that was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During his stint at Michigan, the Wolverines compiled an 82-39 record with a 40-25 mark in Big Ten play.
During Brooks’ final season in Ann Arbor, Michigan earned the program’s first-ever trip to the Sweet Sixteen and climbed as high as No. 11 in the AP Poll, the highest ranking in program history, as the Wolverines finished with a 16-6 record during the shortened season.
Before joining Michigan, Brooks spent two seasons at Utah, helping the Utes to 34 wins and a pair of postseason appearances in the WNIT. He was responsible for recruiting and assisted in post player development. Brooks also helped with extra skill development workouts with the team and ran the Utah Elite Women’s Basketball Camp.
Before Utah, Brooks was an assistant at North Texas for four seasons, at Texas Southern for three years and spent one season on the sidelines at Robert Morris (2008), where he helped the Colonials to a 23-10 record, a Northeastern Conference Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
The Richmond, Virginia, native got his start at West Virginia, serving as a graduate assistant coach for two seasons (2005-06) and as the director of basketball operations for one year (2007). He graduated from WVU in 2004, with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and received his master’s in athletic coaching education in 2006. During his time as an undergraduate student at West Virginia, he served as a manager for the men’s basketball program under head coach John Beilein.
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