Dozens of Coronado T-Bird Football alumni honored the legacy of former head coach Don Brooks with the creation of a scholarship that will bear the name of the man they all revere as an influential figure in their lives.
This weekend, players from as far as Oklahoma and Arizona traveled to El Paso over the weekend to officially kick off the Coach Don Brooks Scholarship Program that will grant $1,000 to a current Coronado football player who showcases excellence on the field, in the classroom and the community.
“This is the least we can do,” former High School All-America linebacker Lance Taylor told media. “He’s touched so many lives and influenced so many of us, so this is one night we’ll all remember for the rest of our lives.”
Brooks retired in 2011 after 35 years at Coronado. During his tenure, the T-Birds won 229 games, reached the state quarterfinals and earned several district and bi-district championships.
EPISD in 2016 renamed the Coronado football stadium as Quarles-Brooks Stadium to honor the legendary coach.
If you’d like to contribute to the Don Brooks Scholarship Fund through the El Paso Community Foundation, you may do so here.
Coach Don Brooks was the head football coach of Coronado High School for 35 years, from 1977 to 2011. During that time, he compiled a record of 228-147-3. More important than his won/loss record is the number of lives Coach Brooks positively impacted during his long tenure.
The Don Brooks Scholarship fund was created to honor Coach Brooks and will serve to provide ongoing scholastic support to a worthy Coronado football letterman who is going on to college. Scholarships will be awarded annually to worthy applicants selected by a Committee of ex-Coronado High graduates, all of whom played under Coach Brooks and admire him for the positive impacts he had on each of their lives.
Story by Gustavo Reveles | Photo by Leonel Monroy – EPISD
