COLUMBIA, S.C. – Benedict College has named Daniel Brooks as its new men's and women's cross country and track & field head coach, Director of Athletics Willie Washington announced today.
 
Brooks joins Benedict after serving the past six years as an associate commissioner for the South Carolina High School League. Prior to that, he served as head track & field coach at Dreher High School for 33 years, winning eight state championships.
 
"We are excited to be able to bring in someone with Coach Brooks' talent and experience," Washington said. "He is well respected nationally as a track coach and we know he will continue to keep our teams at a championship level."
 
Brooks has coached 17 national champions, 73 All-Americans and more than 180 individual state champions during his coaching career. He is a nine-time SCTCCCA Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the NFHS National Coach of the Year in 2004. He was inducted into the South Carolina Track & Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2008.
 
He received his Bachelor of Science degree in physical education/health/recreation and dance from Benedict College in 1985.
 
"I am excited about being home. It's always good to return home," Brooks said. "Benedict College already has an excellent championship program, and my goal is to take us to the next level and win national championships."
 
Brooks is the co-founder of Jump Start Athletics Speed and Agility, a training program that works with elite and professional athletes all over the state of South Carolina.
 
Over the past 35 years, Coach Brooks has co-sponsored and spearheaded several summer enrichment and training programs for youth in and around the inner city of Columbia. This includes the U.S. Youth Games, Parks and Recreation, AAU, Columbia Urban League and Big Brothers/Big Sisters programs, and the 100 Black Men of Columbia.
 
Brooks is married to Elizabeth Books, also a graduate of Benedict College, and they have two daughters: Dr. Octavia Brooks and Nicole Brooks.