Connect with Coach Tiger Brooks

• Twitter/X: @MrBrooksJr
• Instagram: @TigerBrooks01

In this Episode:

In this episode, Coach P sits down with Coach Tiger Brooks, head coach of Deer Park HS girls basketball, to talk about building programs, developing a personal coaching philosophy, the joys and challenges of coaching both boys and girls, and why coaching truly is a labor of love.

🏀 WNBA & NBA Talk (0:22-7:21)

• Way-too-early WNBA predictions and Las Vegas Aces repeat chances
• Eastern/Western Conference playoff predictions
• Coach Brooks' take on the T-Wolves vs. Mavericks and why Dallas could be "Title Town"

🏀 The Foundation: Playing Under a Legend (7:28-9:25)

• Playing for the late Buddy Carlile at Clear Creek High School
• The assist record challenge and lessons in leadership
• How legendary coaches shape future coaching philosophies

🏀 The Journey: From Engineering to Education (9:32-12:24)

• Southern University family legacy and the engineering detour
• The pivotal counselor conversation that changed everything
• 16 years in education, 4 years as a head coach

🏀 Discovering the Calling (12:29-16:00)

• Coaching his younger brother's AAU teams as a teenager
• The transition from boys to girls basketball
• "At the end of the day, they're athletes" - Buddy Carlile's lasting wisdom

🏀 Boys vs. Girls: The Real Talk (16:14-17:23)

• Why Coach Brooks will "never go back to the boy side"
• Key Quote: "Girls, you ask them to do something for the most part, 99% of the time, they gonna do it... As long as they know you care, they'll run through a wall for you."
• The toughness factor that many people don't see

🏀 Developing "Tiger Ball" Philosophy (18:26-21:31)

• Influences from his father's "Camp Shelton" training
• Learning from coaching legends like Chris Johnson and Darren Chandler
• Core Philosophy: "If you get down and work on defense, we're going to let that thing fly on offense"

🏀 Mount Rushmore of Coaches (22:25-24:04)

• Coach Brooks' Top 5: John Wooden, Dawn Staley, Geno Auriemma, Dean Smith, Pat Summitt
• The John Wooden socks and shoes lesson in attention to detail

🏀 Learning Through Losses (25:09-27:58)

• The humility of being outcoached and taking responsibility
• Mindset: "Anytime we have a bad night, I feel like I got outcoached that night"
• Playing the best competition to grow as a coach

🏀 The Grind: Sleep and Sacrifice (28:05-30:00)

• The 25-minute drive home as decompression time
• Four to five hours of sleep during season - "some nights it's two, three, four"
• Why the job never ends when the final horn sounds

🏀 Career Alternatives & Life Perspective (30:06-32:18)

• Dream jobs: Lawyer ("I like to argue") and Movie Star
• Taye Diggs would play Tiger Brooks in the biopic
• The "happy wife, happy life" philosophy

🏀 Officials vs. Coaches Debate (32:18-35:49)

• Who has the tougher job and why
• The respect factor and community responsibility
• Coach P's take: Coaches have it harder because "our night doesn't end when that final horn goes off"

1. Strong support system (family, friends, and colleagues)
2. Knowledgeable mentor
3. Great assistants

Mentors Spotlight:
Coach’s father (leadership), Coach Darren Chandler (coaching), and Dave Ward (spiritual mentor).

Two Shots:

1. Being disrespected by an opposing coach on the sideline
2. Humorous (in retrospect) run-ins with doubting officials, proving hard work and improvement pay off

And-One:
To every coach: “Remember your endgame, stay true to your heart, and don’t let anyone discourage you. The real reward is the impact on lives—cherish every moment.”

Memorable Quotes:

• “At the end of the day, they’re athletes…”
• “The longer I coach, the better I sleep.”
• “The most important thing I did today was give a kid a hug.”

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