From a one-stoplight town in upstate New York to the bright lights of NCAA Division I basketball, Coach Jacey Brooks has carved her name into the game with heart, hustle, and a vision for greatness. Her rise from a small-town standout to Head Coach of Northern Illinois University’s Women’s Basketball team is a story of resilience, belief, and relentless drive — the kind of journey that defines SportsLifeTalk’s “You Got Next.”
Born and raised in Machias, New York, Jacey learned early on what it meant to earn every bucket. Graduating with just 62 classmates, she was a big dreamer in a small town — and basketball was her passport to the world. At Buffalo State College, she became a force to be reckoned with, scoring over 1,200 career points and ranking 16th in rebounds, proving that where you come from doesn’t define where you can go.
But her real story began after a devastating ACL injury — one that could’ve ended her playing days. Instead, it opened the door to a new purpose: coaching. That’s when she met Coach Jim Crowley, who took a chance on her and gave her a role at St. Bonaventure — a humble $5,000-a-year job that would spark an 18-year career of building, mentoring, and leading. Jacey traded in the jersey for the clipboard and never looked back.
At SUNY Cortland, she led her teams to three NCAA Tournament appearances in just three seasons, proving she had the leadership, strategy, and culture to win. Then came another bold leap — stepping away from a head coaching role to serve as Associate Head Coach at Buffalo, where she helped lead the Bulls to a WNIT Championship, knocking off powerhouse programs like Rutgers and Cleveland State along the way.
That success caught the eye of Northern Illinois University, and in a whirlwind of interviews and excitement, Jacey was named the 11th head coach in NIU history. “It’s surreal,” she said. “I remember walking into the Convocation Center as an opponent. Now I get to make it our home court advantage.”
Since that day, she’s hit the ground running — building a culture rooted in discipline, energy, and love for the game. “You’re going to see a team that plays extremely hard every single night,” she promises. “We’re going to compete with passion, grit, and purpose.”
With a mix of seasoned veterans, fresh faces, and relentless recruits, Coach Brooks has her sights set on restoring NIU’s proud tradition of women’s basketball dominance. Her leadership philosophy? Simple: “Winning is hard — but nothing worth having ever comes easy.”
Off the court, Jacey is as real as they come — a mentor, motivator, and role model who believes in teaching life through basketball. Whether it’s breaking down film, empowering her players to find their voice, or representing women in leadership, she’s redefining what it means to be a coach in today’s game.
In this exclusive SportsLifeTalk: You Got Next episode, hosts B Jones and Head Coach KT sit down with Coach Brooks to unpack:
How a $5,000 job became the foundation for a Division I coaching career
The challenges and triumphs of rebuilding a program from the ground up
Her recruiting philosophy and the culture she’s bringing to NIU
Her vision for women’s basketball and what “grit” really looks like
🎙️ Whether you’re a player, coach, or fan, you’ll walk away inspired by Coach Brooks’ humility, humor, and heart for the game.
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