Mark Pope Adds Highly Regarded Recruiter/Coach Alvin Brooks III

Baylor University Photo

Mark Pope might only have three players on his first Kentucky roster but he now has four coaches after adding Alvin Brooks III of Baylor as associate head coach Thursday.

“Alvin Brooks is a national champion coach, three times over,” UK head coach Mark Pope said in a release from Kentucky. “He is one of the most highly regarded tacticians, recruiters and relationship-builders in all of college basketball. He’s been mentored by some of the great coaches of the game, including Bruce Weber and Scott Drew.

“He and his wife, Tiffany, and their sons AJ and Austin are going to be a big part of Big Blue Nation and help us bring home (national championship) No. 9.”

Brooks has been the top assistant at Baylor under coach Scott Drew for the last eight years, including the 2021 national championship season, and the Bears had a combined 194-72 record during his tenure, including 22-15 against top 10 teams.

He does have a previous tie to Kentucky as he is the son of Lamar head coach Alvin Brooks II who was the director of operations under Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie from 2007-2009.

“I am so excited to join coach Pope and his staff and be a part of the Big Blue Nation,” Brooks said in the news release. “I’m very appreciative of the opportunity to join a storied program, with such a passionate fan base as we chase banners together. My family and I are grateful to coach Pope and Mitch Barnhart and I can’t wait to get started.”

Brooks has Division I coaching experience at Bradley, Sam Houston State and Kansas State along with his time at Baylor.

Baylor had the highest ranked recruiting class in program history in 2021 at No. 4 overall by ESPN and the Bears have had five NBA draft picks,  including three-consecutive lottery selections  with Brooks on staff.