Clarke Central High School secondary varsity football coach Steve Brooks poses in Billy Henderson Stadium on Aug. 29. Brooks first began coaching football at CCHS in 1978 and after leaving and coming back, he took over as head coach following former CCHS head varsity football coach Billy Henderson in 1996. “My first five years here were very fundamentally important to me, as far as my coaching. Walking away in 2001, there’s no doubt in my mind that changed my whole thought process. I got very involved in learning leadership, and said, “I can’t do it like Coach Henderson. I got to learn leadership and do it my way,’” Brooks said. Photo by Maypop Wren
CCHS varsity football secondary coach Steve Brooks discusses his legacy with the CCHS football program and his goals for the 2025-26 season, his first season back, since 2001.
Sports Editor Liya Taylor: Can you talk about your football journey before becoming a coach?
Clarke Central High School varsity football secondary coach Steve Brooks: (I) went to Samford University, played ball one semester and then came home at Christmas and told my parents I was homesick. My dad said, “You’re gonna go in the (United States) Army.” So, I went in and I was there ‘73 (and) ‘74 and I got out August of ‘75. (Then,) I went to Mercer University in Atlanta. I went (for the) fall quarter, winter quarter and then transferred in spring of ‘76 to (the) University of Georgia, (where) I played ball.
LT: How did you get your start in coaching football?
SB In ‘78, (I) was a student teacher (and) I was a linebacker coach (at CCHS) for two seasons. Then the defensive coordinator left, and I got (the) job. (After that), I went to (the) University of Georgia and I did three seasons, (then) I went to Western Kentucky University as a full time coach, stayed three months (and realized) it wasn’t what I wanted to do. (I) didn’t want to move my family there. So, I came back and went back to UGA in spring of ‘85.
Teach the boys leadership (and) to be responsible for (what) we (call) the ABCDEs. Their attitude, behavior, character, conduct, conversation, desire, deed, determination (and) the direction that they’re going in life. Then the big one, E, effort.
LT: Why did you come back to coaching at CCHS in 1990?
SB: I came back after five years and Coach (Billy) Henderson got a tumor. He was operated on in June, and he could not return. They asked me (if ) I was interested in the head coach job, and I said, “No, I know the demands for my time.” I have a special needs child. Long story short, I got a phone call (that) the board had approved me to be the head football coach, department chair and athletic director. Back then, athletic director and football coaches were connected. I said, “Well, I got this now, I gotta run with it.” The ‘96, ‘97 (and) ‘98 seasons were wonderful. Couldn’t have been better.
LT: How did it feel to step into being head coach after someone so successful like Henderson?
SB: The expectations were overwhelming following somebody that’s incredibly successful, not just record wise, but successful in (his) impact and (in) influencing people’s lives. You don’t replace anybody like that. I tried to duplicate it, keep it going. (I) used the blueprint that he gave us (and) we did that for ‘96, ‘97 and ‘98 and then, looking back, being honest, I think the job just engulfed me.
A photo of Clarke Central High School varsity football secondary coach Steve Brooks during his time playing for the University of Georgia football team is shown. Brooks has coached football for over 30 years. “Our job (as coaches) is to teach them to one day be husbands, be daddies and be outstanding people in the job force. That’s our job. Football is just a byproduct (that) helps us teach those other things,” Brooks said. Photo courtesy of Steve Brooks
Clarke Central High School varsity football secondary coach Steve Brooks poses with his team during the 1996-97 season, when he was head coach. After leaving the CCHS football coaching team in 2001, Brooks returned for the 2025-26 season. “When I came back, the first thing that we said as a staff (was) 'What can we do,' (and I said) 'Provide every coach on the staff a place to work, a place to dress and (a place to) secure their belongings,'" Brooks said. Photo courtesy of Steve Brooks
Clarke Central High School varsity football secondary coach Steve Brooks speaks with former Cedar Shoals High School head varsity football coach Scott Wilkins while he was the CCHS head varsity football coach during the 1996-97 season. After serving as head coach for five years, Brooks left CCHS in 2001. “After that season, I went to Athens Christian School. I said, ‘I’m going to catch my breath. This is going to be my halftime,’” Brooks said. Photo courtesy of Steve Brooks
Clarke Central High School varsity football secondary coach Steve Brooks coaches during a Gladiator game from the 1996-97 season, when he was head coach. According to Brooks, after having a successful 1996, 97 and 98 season, the team struggled. “(We) lost some really good coaches and we did not replace coaches. Back then, I think we had '78 teachers on staff and our school was much smaller,” Brooks said. Photo courtesy of Steve Brooks
LT: Throughout your extensive coaching career, what’s a moment that changed things for you?
SB: I think that my last year here, when I stepped away (and) resigned and then went to Athens Christian School, I said “I’m gonna take care of Steve. I’m gonna take care of my health.” And so really I said, “I’m going into halftime of my career.” That year I caught my breath and really changed. I changed from saying, “I want to be successful (to) I want to be significant in people’s lives.” That was the paradigm shift for me. Forget about success, which drove the first half of my professional career (and instead) invest in people’s lives. Be significant in their lives. Have an impact, have an influence.
LT: Why did you decide to come back to CCHS this year?
SB: (CCHS Athletic Director Dr.) Jon Ward called me a year ago (and I) almost came a year ago. (But) I said, “No financially, it’s not good. I need to stay.” Then, we talked this past December, and he said, “We’re going to have a ninth grade head football job, do you want to come?” And I said, “Yeah, I want to come back to Athens, I’d love to come back to Clarke Central.” So, I came back and coached football (during) the month of May. Then in June, when school was out, I packed up my stuff and brought it here.
LT: What are your goals for the CCHS football program moving forward?
SB: I would like to see our program get back where it once was. I think the rise of the public schools in Oconee County, it used to be one really small school, now there’s two large schools, (has made it where) a lot of the Athens population is spread. ACS, Athens Academy (and) Prince Avenue Christian School have grown (and the) Madison County School System has grown. So, Athens is spread out more than it was when I was here before (and) a challenge for us as a program (will be) to develop our underneath feeder program.
LT: What are some challenges you’re expecting for this season?
SB: I think a challenge for us as a staff and for our program is trying to change our culture: Teach the boys leadership (and) to be responsible for (what) we (call) the “ABCDEs.” Their attitude, behavior, character, conduct, conversation, desire, deed, determination (and) the direction that they’re going in life. Then the big one, E, effort. Let’s control those things that we can control. A lot of things in life you can’t control.
Clarke Central High School varsity football secondary coach Steve Brooks coaches during the Gladiators game against North Oconee High School in Billy Henderson Stadium on Sept. 5. Brooks took over as the CCHS head varsity football coach in 1996 but left in 2001. “I have nothing but wonderful memories (from being head coach), and I can only blame me for (letting the job) overtake my life,” Brooks said. Photo by Iliana Tejada
LT: Looking back on your career, is there anything you wish you could have told your younger self?
SB: I would say, “Do less and do it better.” I didn’t know you could tell people, “No, the job is too large.” (Being) athletic director, head football coach (and) department chair is too large for anybody. I didn’t have anybody other than Coach Henderson to advise me and he was just incredibly demanding. A wonderful athletic director, wonderful head coach, wonderful father in law, but very demanding and high expectations. We didn’t have nearly as large a staff as we have now (and) back then everybody wore a lot of hats.
LT: Overall, how do you feel about being back and being a coach at CCHS again?
SB: I’m excited about being here. I’m excited about using what I’ve learned in all of my experiences, the good, the bad and the ugly mistakes I’ve made and taking all my life lessons (and) trying to impart that to the staff. We have a bunch of young coaches. Then, (I hope to) provide Dr. Ward and (CCHS head varsity football coach) David Perno with help. (I hope) to take a load off of them so they can go, “Okay, that’s handled. Steve’s got it, and I can go do my job”, so that they don’t get burned. I know it can burn you out.
