Kevin McGuff is losing one of his assistant coaches to a head coaching job.
Wesley Brooks, who has been with the Buckeyes for the past three seasons, became the head coach at Utah State on Monday.
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— USU Women's Hoops (@USUWBasketball) April 1, 2024
Welcome our newest head coach, @coachwesbball!
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Brooks joins an athletic department led by former Ohio State senior deputy athletic director Diana Sabau, who is now the athletic director at Utah State.
"Wesley is a great developer of people, not only as high-preforming student-athletes, All-Americans and professionals, but as young women in society," Sabau said in a statement. "Under his leadership, we look forward to advancing the trajectory of women's basketball at Utah State University."
McGuff and former Ohio State star Jacy Sheldon, who concluded her five-year Buckeye career this past season, praised Brooks in statements provided to Utah State.
- McGuff: "I'm extremely excited for Wes and his family. He is a high-character person who will make a positive impact on the student-athletes at Utah State. His high-energy approach will have the Aggies competing for Mountain West championships in the near future."
- Sheldon: "He shows up every single day and gives 100 percent of himself to whoever he is surrounded by. He's got great energy and I'm excited to see his impact on Utah State."
Brooks replaces Kayla Ard, who was fired by Utah State just moments after its season-ending loss to Boise State in the Mountain West tournament, leading to Ard announcing her own firing in her postgame press conference. Brooks is tasked with turning around a program that has suffered four straight losing seasons, going just 5-25 this past season.
Brooks’ departure opens up a vacancy on Ohio State’s coaching staff alongside assistants Carla Morrow, who has been with the Buckeyes since 2019, and Jalen Powell, who joined Ohio State’s staff in 2021.
