Elijah Brooks | Virginia Tech

Elijah Brooks joined the Tech staff as running backs coach in the spring of 2023, following a successful run with at Maryland and powerhouse DeMatha Catholic High School.

 

In four years at Maryland, Brooks demonstrated the ability to coach and develop running backs at the highest level in the Big Ten Conference. Each year a running back under his tutelage earned an opportunity in the NFL, including Anthony McFarland (Pittsburgh Steelers), Javon Leake (NY Giants), Jake Funk (LA Rams) and Tayon Fleet-Davis (Kansas City Chiefs). 

 

In the 2022 season under Brooks, freshmen Roman Hemby and Antwain Littleton had breakout seasons, combining for six 100-yard games. Hemby earned Big 10 Player of the Week honors twice, rushing for 989 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season, placing him among the top 10 rushers in the Big Ten.

 

Over the course of his career, Brooks has a proven track record of establishing and cultivating relationships throughout Virginia Tech's recruiting footprint. His recruiting prowess can be traced to strong connections in D.C., Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

 

As a head coach at DeMatha Catholic High School (Md.) he compiled a 72-20 record, which is the best eight year run in school history, leading the Stags to four consecutive conference and state championships (2013-16). Competing in arguably the nation's toughest high school football conference, the 2022 DeMatha Catholic High School Hall of Fame inductee garnered Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Coach of the Year awards in both 2014 and 2016. Brooks also led DeMatha to three top 20 national finishes. His high school coaching resumes also includes developing 6 current NFL players. 

 

A Largo, Maryland native, Brooks is a 2007 William & Mary graduate, Brooks starred as an all-conference running back, finishing as the school's sixth all-time leading rusher. He and his wife, Tierra, have three children, Zoey, Zayia and Elijah Jr.