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Brandon Brooks (water polo)
Encyclopedia
Brandon Brooks who played water polo as a goalie for UCLA and the 2004 and 2008 United States National teams, is now the head coach of the women's water polo team at UCLA. The women's team won the 2008 and 2009 NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship
, and one of his players, Courtney Mathewson
, captured the Peter J. Cutino Award
as the player-of-the year in 2008.
On June 3, 2009, Brooks was named the head coach of the UCLA Bruins
women's water polo team, having served as its men's and women's water polo team assistant coach. He was also named as an assistant coach to the USA water polo women's senior national team
for the 2009 FINA World Championships.
, but was educated in Honolulu Hawaii and attended Punahou School
. At Punahou, he played both basketball and water polo.
He was the goalkeeper at UCLA for four years and was a four-time All-America selection (1999 hm, 2000, 2001 and 2002). He helped UCLA to NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship
s in 1999 and 2000, and became the school's all-time leader with 700 saves. He was also a three-time All-MPSF honoree (2000, 2001 and 2002).
Brooks was a walked-on to UCLA basketball team his freshman year. He graduated from UCLA in 2005 with a degree in sociology.
and Brett Ormsby, two former UCLA teammates, completed for Team USA in Athens Greece. He was a member of 2008 Water Polo Team USA
. In the gold medal championship
match, Brooks had four saves and helped the USA team to win the silver medal, losing to Hungary 14-10. He was a big cheerleader on the bench for the United States team.
NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship
The NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship has existed since the 2001 season. Three conferences have teams competing in women's water polo, the Collegiate Water Polo Association, the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference...
, and one of his players, Courtney Mathewson
Courtney Mathewson
Courtney Mathewson was born September 14, 1986. in Orange, California. She played water polo for the University of California, Los Angeles Bruins during their four-consecutive NCAA National Champion Women's Water Polo championships, and was named to the All-Tournament first team...
, captured the Peter J. Cutino Award
Peter J. Cutino Award
The Peter J. Cutino Award, named after former college water polo player and UC Berkeley coach Peter J. Cutino, is considered the most prestigious individual award in American collegiate water polo...
as the player-of-the year in 2008.
On June 3, 2009, Brooks was named the head coach of the UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
women's water polo team, having served as its men's and women's water polo team assistant coach. He was also named as an assistant coach to the USA water polo women's senior national team
United States women's national water polo team
The United States women's national water polo team represents the United States in international women's water polo competitions and friendly matches. It is one of the leading teams in the world since the late 1990s....
for the 2009 FINA World Championships.
Early years
Brooks is the oldest in his family of three children. He has twin sisters. He was born in Rock Island, IllinoisRock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
, but was educated in Honolulu Hawaii and attended Punahou School
Punahou School
Punahou School, once known as Oahu College, is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school located in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu in the U.S. State of Hawaii...
. At Punahou, he played both basketball and water polo.
College
NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship
The NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship has existed since the 1969 season.No school from outside the state of California has ever surpassed third place...
s in 1999 and 2000, and became the school's all-time leader with 700 saves. He was also a three-time All-MPSF honoree (2000, 2001 and 2002).
Brooks was a walked-on to UCLA basketball team his freshman year. He graduated from UCLA in 2005 with a degree in sociology.
Olympic Games
In the summer 2004 Olympic Games, Brooks, Adam WrightAdam Wright (water polo)
Adam Wright is an American water polo player and a college water polo head coach. He was a member of the United States men's national water polo team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics...
and Brett Ormsby, two former UCLA teammates, completed for Team USA in Athens Greece. He was a member of 2008 Water Polo Team USA
United States men's national water polo team
The United States men's national water polo team is the representative for the United States of America in international men's water polo.The team competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics, where they won silver medal in the final, losing to Hungary 14-10....
. In the gold medal championship
Water polo at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament
-Classification 7th–12th:-Classification 7th–10th:-Medal round:Bracket-Quarterfinals:-Semifinals:-Final rankings:-Leading goalscorers:-References:* , LA84 Foundation.-External links:*...
match, Brooks had four saves and helped the USA team to win the silver medal, losing to Hungary 14-10. He was a big cheerleader on the bench for the United States team.