Lionel Brooks to assist son on Smoky Mountain football staff

The move is expected to be for this season only, according to Principal Kenny Nicholson and School Board Chairman Martha Queen.

When Cameron Brooks was hired in March, it was with the understanding that his family members would not be part of the coaching staff. An inexperienced staff was cited as the primary reason for the elder Brooks helping this year.

"We tried to make do," Nicholson said. "We've got a great staff, but we were a little inexperienced at the defensive positions."

Cameron Brooks had earlier announced that Ian Roper and Josh Parris would serve as co-coordinators for the defense. Neither of them have any varsity football coaching experience.

"I've always felt Lionel was one of the best defensive coordinators in the state of North Carolina," Nicholson said.

Cameron Brooks said his father would work primarily with linebackers and defensive ends in addition to coordinating the defense. Roper will handle the defensive line with Parris concentrating on the offensive line.

"I'm excited about it, and the kids are excited about it," Cameron Brooks said of his father joining the staff. "It wasn't fair to the kids to have him here and not coaching."

Lionel Brooks was the Mustangs' head coach from 1990-96 compiling a 31-39 record. Before becoming head coach, he was defensive coordinator for many years under Coach Babe Howell. He returned to the sidelines the past two seasons as defensive coordinator under Coach Boyce Deitz.

"With a new coach, we want to give him every opportunity to be successful," Nicholson said. "We want to make sure we have everything in place."

Cameron Brooks worked under his father and Deitz as an assistant. This is his first head football coaching position.

"After football season is over, we're going to see what our coaching needs are," Nicholson said. "We'll have to see what (teaching) positions come open, and we'll try to fill them. Right now, we want to make this a successful season."

"I really think it will be a non-factor," Nicholson said of father helping son. "Cameron is the coach. His dad is a great defensive coordinator. I think it will be a good mesh."

He added, "The bottom line for me is kids. They deserve every opportunity we can give them."

"We have always had respect for Lionel, but we wanted Cameron to do this on his own," Queen said. "He has such a young coaching staff that the feeling of the principal and the athletic director was that the only ones going to be hurt were the kids."

Queen said under those circumstances and with the understanding that the situation would be rectified before next season, she agreed to support Lionel Brooks joining the staff.

Lionel Brooks said he reluctantly agreed to serve as an assistant.

"There's nobody that wants this to be Cameron's program any more than I do because I'm his dad," he said. "I do have the experience, I know the terrain and I know the opponents. I hope I will be able to help the team in some way."

Back to Sports: 08/17/00.