Fletcher Brooks named head coach of men's and women's track & field

WILLIAMSTOWN, MA -- The personable and indefatigable Fletcher Brooks is returning to Williams College to assume the head coach of men's and women's track & field position. Brooks spent seven years at Williams (1998-2005) as the Ephs' strength and conditioning coach, an assistant and then associate head coach of men's and women's track & field, before taking the job of head coach of women's track & field and women's cross country at MIT.

Brooks just completed his third season as the head coach of the MIT women's track & field team this past weekend at the NCAA Championships and now he will be heading back to the Purple Valley this summer to lead the Ephs. "In some ways I feel like I never left Williams, said Brooks. "When I came back to the campus for my daylong interview in April, everyone was so welcoming and supportive. It does very much feel like coming home."

Brooks made a big impact on the MIT program in his brief tenure in Cambridge, guiding the Engineers to their first NEWMAC title (2007), and the highest New England indoor (3rd in 2008) and outdoor (2nd in 2007) finishes in program history. He also coached the Engineers' 2006 men's indoor and outdoor NCAA champion in the shot put.

Fletcher Brooks photo from MIT

"I am grateful for the experience I have had at MIT, but I look forward with enthusiasm to getting back to the NESCAC and Williams, the best Division III conference and athletic department in the country, as far as I'm concerned, and to the challenges in heading up the track and field program. Most of all, I look forward to working once again with a great coaching staff and a wonderful group of kids."

During his time at Williams, Brooks coached 46 Eph All-Americans and four NCAA champions and was instrumental in implementing effective strength and conditioning programs for the Williams varsity teams.

"Williams track & field, including both our returning athletes and assistant coaches, is excited to welcome back Fletcher, this time as head coach," noted long time Eph head coach Peter Farwell who served this past year on an interim basis. "Fletcher was a tremendous assistant coach at Williams for seven years in the throws, jumps, and strength-conditioning areas. Since then he has gained great experience heading up MIT's women's track & field team, and he will bring to Williams administrative expertise, top-notch event coaching, and a strong personal ability to guide and motivate our coaching staff and team. We are all looking forward to the 2008-09 year, and many more."

Brooks is a 1993 graduate of Allegheny College where he earned a B.A. in English and minored in women studies. He was also an All-American in the shot put and lettered in football.

He earned a master's degree in physical education and advanced level coaching from Springfield College in 1998 and he holds three national certifications:

--   Level II Jumps, Throws, Sprints and Combined Event Coach  (USA Track & Field)

--   Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (National Strength and Conditioning Association)

--  Level I Club Coach (United States Weightlifting Association)