Steven Brooks ’03 is ready to be the new head coach of the Carolina Chaos in the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL). The “last guy out of the locker room” has found the right moment to lead this professional team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. “The timing is perfect,” shares Brooks. “Treat others as you wish to be treated and good things will happen.” The process of Brooks becoming a Premier Lacrosse League head coach began in 2020 when he was hired as offensive coordinator and assistant coach with the New York Atlas. Steven was, in fact, the first former PLL player to ever be named as an assistant coach. His five seasons with the Atlas included two stints as interim head coach, where Brooks led them to the Premier Lacrosse League Championship Series finals in 2023 and 2025, winning the championship in the latter season. Steven’s commitment to the Atlas motivated him to turn down a head coaching offer in 2025, and it paid off when the team won their first PLL Championship under his leadership. “I learned so much as an assistant under Mike Pressler (Atlas Head Coach),” notes Brooks. “He gave me the keys to the car and let me get my hands dirty.” That experience and success as an assistant led his good friend and General Manager of the Chaos, Spencer Ford, to say “I don’t want anyone else but him (Brooks)” when it came time for his team to hire a new coach. Brooks’ rise to the top of the profession makes him the first former player to be named as a head coach in the PLL and comes with a lesson for others looking to achieve the same as well. “My journey shows that it doesn’t matter where you come from,” shares Brooks. “You need to do the work in order to get there.”
Steven comes from Libertyville, Illinois and, for Brooks, his work in the sport started in sixth grade when he proclaimed to his parents that he was going to play professional lacrosse when he grew up. “There was no such thing as professional lacrosse at the time,” notes Brooks. “But my mom still said I could do it.” Brooks’ mom was his biggest fan. Tragically, she passed away of lung cancer during his sophomore year of high school. Undaunted, Steven used his mother’s passing as motivation. “You have to find your reason why,” admits Brooks. “The motivation for reaching towards the best version of yourself.” The drive and dedication to push forward led to a standout career in both soccer and lacrosse at Libertyville High School, earning Steven the title of Illinois Player of the Year and All-American status in lacrosse his senior year. Still, these accolades alone were not enough for the undersized midfielder to garner any offers from Division I schools. “What do I have to do to go to Division I?” Brooks asked himself. His aunt Liz, who consistently encouraged him to “push through everything,” provided the answer in Bridgton Academy.
The year at Bridgton Academy truly made the difference for Brooks. He arrived in North Bridgton in the fall of 2002 seeking academic and physical growth, with a dream of earning a Division I lacrosse offer serving as the catalyst. Brooks recalls that, “School was a struggle at times,” and when he arrived at Bridgton he was 5’10” and 160-pounds. Brooks left Bridgton in the spring of 2003 achieving all three of his goals, gaining confidence in the classroom, gaining height and muscle, and securing a spot on one of the best lacrosse teams in the country. “Bridgton got me to Syracuse University,” notes Brooks, even though it did take until the last week of school for Steven to finalize his future plans. The All-New England prep soccer player had an official soccer offer from Syracuse, but only a verbal commitment for lacrosse to the University of Denver. “I was probably a better soccer player, but I wanted to play lacrosse,” admits Brooks. While his patience was tested, the call finally came during Commencement week. “I remember that Coach (Matt) Nutley pulled me from one of my finals and said ‘I just got off the phone with Coach Desko (then Syracuse Head Lacrosse Coach John Desko). They want you.’”
Steven’s life after Bridgton Academy has been legendary in the world of lacrosse. During his time at Syracuse University, the Orange won two National Championships in both 2004 and 2008. Brooks was named an honorable mention All-American in 2007 and first team All-American in 2008. Steven registered over 60 goals and 100 points for his career and earned the MacLaughlin Award as the nation’s best midfielder his senior year. When asked about his time at Syracuse, Steven doesn’t talk about accomplishments, he tells about how hard he had to work to earn a starting spot on the first team midfield. “I was told I needed to work on my right hand going into my sophomore year,” shares Brooks, a natural lefty. After putting in extra time in the offseason, the spot was his. The story is a testament to how Steven continually pushes himself every step of the way. “I’m always pushing to the next level,” shares Brooks. “It still lights my fire.” That fire carried him to a thirteen-year professional career where he was a three-time league all star and was part of two professional championship teams with the Chesapeake Bayhawks. While playing professional lacrosse, Steven scored over 150 goals and tallied over 230 points with one simple mindset, “Attack it to the fullest. Put your head down and nose to the grindstone.” Brooks’ rapid elevation in the coaching ranks is a direct result of that mentality and his principles have earned him a great level of respect throughout the lacrosse community.
Through all of the accolades and success, Brooks is anchored by faith and family. “Everything happens for a reason,” notes Brooks. “Believe in yourself and stay humble.” Those life lessons were rooted in him by the woman that believed in him early on. “I still hear my mom clapping, whistling, and yelling,” shares Brooks, who wears blue bracelets to remind him that his mom is always with him. Brooks’ journey is fulfilled by his young family. “My wife and two children keep me grounded and push me,” he shares. That support allows life in the busy world of professional lacrosse to work. The Brooks family travels to as many games as possible and there is often one, sometimes both, children in tow during practices. For Brooks it is all purposeful. “Sweep the shed. No job is too big, focus on the right things, ignore the noise, and anything is possible.” Steven Brooks ’03 has certainly proven that sentiment to be true.
