Utah State University Vice President and Director of Athletics Diana Sabau announce that Wesley Brooks has been named the school’s 10th head women’s basketball coach in its 36 seasons.
“Wesley is a great developer of people, not only as high-preforming student-athletes, All-Americans and professionals, but as young women in society,” said Sabau. “Under his leadership, we look forward to advancing the trajectory of women’s basketball at Utah State University.”
Brooks brings 20 years of collegiate experience with him to Utah State, most recently serving as an assistant coach at The Ohio State University. 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,” said Brooks. “I am excited and look forward to establishing a program that Aggie nation can be proud of. Our goal is to win championships. Yohanna, Elsa and I look forward to settling into the Logan community.”
Brooks comes to Utah State after spending the past three seasons (2022-24) as an assistant coach at Ohio State. Under head coach Kevin McGuff, Brooks helped the Buckeyes to a pair of Big Ten regular season titles and three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a run to the Sweet Sixteen in 2022, the Elite Eight in 2023 and the second round in 2024.
During his time in Columbus, Ohio State compiled a 79-21 (.790) overall record with a 42-12 (.778) mark in Big Ten play. During that span, the Buckeyes lost just three regular season games to teams ranked outside of the Associated Press Top 25.
Brooks coached eight different Ohio State players to 13 total all-Big Ten honors, including Taylor Mikesell, a back-to-back first-team selection (2022, 2023) and the No. 13 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft. Jacy Sheldon, a two-time all-Big Ten first-team selection, was named an AP Second Team All-American in 2024.
“We are thrilled to welcome Wesley and his family to Utah State University,” said USU President Elizabeth Cantwell. “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 (.678) record with a 40-25 (.615) 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.
Six Wolverine players earned all-Big Ten honors under Brooks’ guidance, including three-time all-Big Ten first-team selection Naz Hillmon, who became the first Michigan player to be named the Big Ten Player of the Year and earn All-American status.
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.
Prior to joining the coaching staff at Utah, Brooks was an assistant at North Texas for four seasons (2012-15), helping Loryn Goodwin to Sun Belt Freshman of the Year recognition in 2012. Before then, he was at Texas Southern for three years (2009-11) 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. Sade Logan was named the Northeastern Conference Player of the Year in 2008 and two players at Robert Morris were named to the all-conference team under Brooks.
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.
Brooks is married to his wife, Yohanna, and has one daughter, Elsa.
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