"I feel the program is in good shape," Simmons said. "Coach Deitz has brought a lot of focus to the facilities. The last three years have been very positive in that regard. Cameron has been a valuable member of the coaching staff that made that possible. I feel we will continue to go in a very positive direction."
Simmons, who chaired the search committee, said he was pleased with the process that led to Brooks' hiring. The committee narrowed a field of 16 applicants to six candidates who were interviewed. In addition to the three who were submitted to the board, interviews were conducted with Mustang assistants Joe Smith and Ian Roper and Seneca (S.C.) assistant Eric Wike.
"I'm excited about Cameron being head coach," Principal Ken Henke said. "The one thing that stands out about Cameron is he has a lot of enthusiasm. He's bubbling with energy. Hopefully, that will go over to the players, and he'll do well."
He also was pleased with the quality of applicants and said it was unfortunate only one could be hired.
Brooks will receive two months pay from local funds at the state salary schedule as well as a supplement to be negotiated, according to Henke.
"I think the committee did a good job interviewing and presenting the candidates to the board," Superintendent Frank Burrell said. "I'm looking forward to working with Mr. Brooks as he takes on his new task."
"I've worked with some great head coaches and learned a lot," said the 38-year-old Brooks. "I'm excited about the opportunity to deal with kids that I can call my kids. It's something I've always wanted to do."
Brooks came to Jackson County in 1990 and has served two stints as an assistant for the Mustangs. He has taught at Blue Ridge and Fairview and officiated middle school basketball. Those experiences have given him the opportunity to watch several of the current high school players literally grow up.
With the character and work ethic Brooks sees from his players in his P.E. classes, Brooks is excited about the immediate future of Mustang football. SM was 6-5 this past season and has been in the playoffs the last two years. However, the Mustangs last won a post season game in 1992.
When the new alignment take effect in the fall of 2001, SM will be the smallest 3-A school in the state. Brooks is not worried about that factor.
"That's something we don't have any control over," he said. "You can not measure what's inside a kid."
Brooks has an impressive playing resume in college and the professional ranks in the Canadian Football League. However, he described himself as "an average high school football player" while a wide receiver for Gaffney (S.C.) High, where he graduated in 1980.
Brooks played wide receiver four years at Gardner-Webb and set school receiving records while being a two-time NAIA All-American. As a junior in 1983, Brooks led all collegiate receivers, NAIA and NCAA, in receptions. The runner-up was future Hall of Famer Jerry Rice.
Brooks played two years for the Hamilton Tiger Cats in the CFL.
"That was different," he said. "Here was a country boy going to the big city. I grew up in a plane going up there."
After his playing days ended, Brooks returned to G-W and completed his bachelor's degree in physical education in 1986.
The first coaching job for Brooks was as a graduate assistant at Citadel where he worked with the secondary. He was an assistant at Goose Creek High near Charleston, S.C., and Berea High in Greenville, S.C., as well as head coach of a middle school in Gastonia before coming to Smoky Mountain in 1990 when his father became head coach.
During his first stint here, he served as defensive coordinator and coached defensive backs and wide receivers.
He returned to South Carolina for a short time and was an assistant at Byrnes High in Spartanburg. He came back here in 1998 working with defensive backs and special teams.
Most of Brooks' playing experience was on offense while most of his coaching experience has been on defense. He said he plans to return to his playing roots and handle the offense while hiring a defensive coordinator.
He said hiring a staff was a top priority and he was unsure what role, if any, his father would play.
"The kids want to know and you want to know as the head coach who you are going to have on staff," he said. "That's my number one concern right now."
Simmons also said developing a staff would be important for Brooks and be something he needs to giving a lot of thought to over the next few weeks.
Regardless of how the staff is set up, Brooks pledged to play an exciting brand of offensive football.
"I'm going to make you defend the whole field," he said. "I like to use a lot of motion."
He said the Mustangs will likely use a pro set as a base offense but will use multiple sets and spread the field. He said he likes to attack from the outside in rather than the inside out.
Defensively, Brooks plan to use multiple 50 looks.
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