Joseph W. Brooks

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Joseph W. Brooks
Biographical details
Born(1891-07-17)July 17, 1891
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
DiedNovember 27, 1953(1953-11-27) (aged 62)
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Playing career
1909–1910Williams
1912–1914Colgate
Position(s)Tackle
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1915Colgate (assistant)
1916Williams
1919–1920Williams
1921Columbia (assistant)
Head coaching record
Overall15–7–2

Joseph W. Brooks (July 7, 1891 – November 27, 1953) was an American football player and coach. He played for Williams College and Colgate University from 1909 to 1914. He was the head football coach at Williams College in 1916, 1919 and 1920.

Athlete[edit]

Brooks played college football at the tackle position and place kicker for Williams College from 1909 to 1910 and for Colgate University from 1912 to 1914. He kicked four placement goals in a 1913 game against Syracuse University and was selected as an All-Eastern player.[1] The New York Times called him "a great placement goal kicker" and "one of the greatest offensive tackles of the country."[1]

Coach[edit]

After graduating from Colgate in 1915, he remained there as an assistant football coach in the 1915.[1] In 1916, he coached the Williams College football team.[2]

In January 1917, Brooks was ruled ineligible to play amateur hockey for the Irish-American Athletic Club in the American Amateur Hockey League due to his having served as a coach at Williams College in 1916.[3]

After the United States entered World War I in the spring of 1917, Brooks served in France with the United States Army as a captain with the 150th Machine Gun Battalion of the 42nd Division.[1]

After being discharged from the military, Brooks returned to his position as the head football coach at Williams College.[4] He was the head coach at Williams for the 1916, 1919 and 1920 seasons.[1][5]

In December 1920, Brooks announced that he would spend the 1921 football season as an assistant football coach for Columbia University.[1]

On January 1, 1921, Brooks' brother, George Bruce Brooks (also a football player for Williams College), shot Julian Dick at a New Year's party in New York City. Brooks donated blood for a transfusion, but the shooting victim died.[6]

In October 1931, Brooks survived an airplane crash in South Bend, Indiana shortly after becoming engaged to Alicia Patterson.[7] The couple was married two months later and the couple, both of whom were licensed pilots, flew to Florida and later to Mexico, in their own plane.[8][9][10]

Head coaching record[edit]

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Williams Ephs (Independent) (1916)
1916 Williams 4–2–2
Williams Ephs (Independent) (1919–1920)
1919 Williams 6–2
1920 Williams 5–3
Williams: 15–7–2
Total: 15–7–2

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "NOTED COACH COMES TO ASSIST O'NEILL; Joe Brooks Will Leave Williams to Work With Gridiron Staff at Columbia" (PDF). The New York Times. 1920-12-23.
  2. ^ "HOPES HIGH AT WILLIAMS; Prospects for Strong Football Team Believed to be Good" (PDF). The New York Times. 1916-09-17.
  3. ^ "BROOKS INELIGIBLE AS AMATEUR ON ICE; Hockey League Bars Williams Football Coach" (PDF). The New York Times. 1917-01-07.
  4. ^ "WILLIAMS GETS UNDER WAY; Joe Brooks Has Squad of 15 Men Out for First Practice" (PDF). The New York Times. 1919-09-11.
  5. ^ "EXPECT BROOKS TO COACH; Williams Believes He Will Be InCharge of Football Again" (PDF). The New York Times. 1920-01-04.
  6. ^ "Julian Dick Dies, Despite Blood Transfusion from the Brother of the Man Who Shot Him" (PDF). The New York Times. 1921-01-03.
  7. ^ "MISS PATTERSON ENGAGED TO WED JOSEPH BROOKS: Plans Revealed Following Airplane Crash". Chicago Daily Tribune. 1931-10-29.
  8. ^ "ALICIA PATTERSON WEDS J.W. BROOKS; Publisher's Daughter Married in Broadway Tabernacle by the Rev. Allan K. Chalmers; HONEYMOON IN AIRPLANE; Couple, Licensed Pilots, to Fly to Florida, and Later to Mexico In Their Own Plane". The New York Times. 1931-12-24.
  9. ^ "Alicia Patterson and Joseph W. Brooks Will Marry Today". Chicago Daily Tribune. 1931-12-23.
  10. ^ "Milestones". Time Magazine. January 4, 1932. Archived from the original on October 27, 2010.