Former Canisius Football Coach Bill Brooks Dies

Former Canisius College football coach Bill Brooks passed away Oct. 27, at the age of 62 in Greensboro, N.C. In 1975, the Woodbury, N.J., native became the school's first varsity football coach in 26 years after the sport was reinstated to the varsity level at the College.
Brooks led the Golden Griffins from 1975-81, where he posted a career record of 29-24-2 when the football program competed at the Division III level.

“Bill did one heck of a job resurrecting the Canisius College football program,” said Dr. Daniel P Starr, Canisius professor emeritus of history and director of athletics from 1974-2000. “When the NCAA Division III level became a reality in 1974, Bill immediately jumped at the chance to bring football to Canisius and make it a success. He was a first-rate coach and a real leader.”

Brooks helped lead the Blue and Gold to five winning seasons during his seven-year tenure, highlighted by a 6-3 season in 1976 where the Griffs outscored their opponents by a 225-112 count. He ranks third in career wins and third in years of service in the school's football record book.

After graduating from Woodbury High School, he went on to earn three varsity letters as an offensive guard at Gettysburg College. There he gained All-Middle Atlantic Conference, all-state and All-East accolades before graduating with his bachelor's degree in sociology in 1967. After his playing days were complete, Brooks moved into the coaching ranks and served as a graduate assistant under Ben Schwartzwalder at Syracuse, where he earned his master's degree in 1970.

While serving in the United States Army, Brooks compiled a 14-4-1 record over two seasons as the head coach of the army Gunners of the Interservice League on Okinawa. He moved on to Staunton (Va.) Military Academy for the 1972-73 seasons. During the 1973 campaign, his team posted an overall record of 7-2, the program's best record in over 12 years.

Brooks came to Canisius in 1974 and served as the team's offensive coordinator in the program's final year at the club level. In 1975, he took over the head coaching duties while also continuing to serve as the team's offensive coordinator. In addition to his coaching duties at Canisius, Brooks also served as the director of recruitment at the College. From 1975-79, he was also the school's dean of students.

Brooks retired from his coaching duties at the College after the 1981 season, and later founded and acted as the CEO of The Brooks Group, a highly successful sales consulting firm based in Greensboro. Using his ideas, The Brooks Group trained over one million salespeople worldwide, and he authored 19 books, including three bestsellers. He is also a member of the Professional Speaking Hall of Fame.

He is survived by his wife Nancy Greever, sons Will and Jeb, and his older brother Adrian. A celebration of his life and accomplishments will be held at 3 p.m., on Wednesday, Oct. 31, at the Brooks Family Residence in Greensboro.

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