 Brooks transferred to Idaho State, where played under head coach Doug Oliver from 2000 to 2002.As a senior, Brooks earned Academic All-Big Sky Conference honors and graduated with a bachelor's degree in finance in 2002 followed by a master's degree in athletics administration in 2003.Brooks broke into the coaching ranks at the junior college level, starting as an assistant at Arkansas–Fort Smith from 2004 to 2006, including the 2006 NJCAA championship team.