Coach Brooks ready for Aggies to win big

In Wesley Brooks’ first year as the head coach of Utah State Women’s Basketball, the challenges were immense, but the vision remained clear. Stepping into a program in need of a rebuild, he knew success wouldn’t come overnight. Yet, despite the team’s struggles in the win-loss column, the signs of growth were undeniable, according to Brooks. 

“You just never know what you’re getting into when you sign up for what you signed up for,” he said. “You knew it was going to be a rebuild, but overall, I think we got the most out of what we could with what we had.” 

Brooks had a season of successes, according to his profile on the USU Athletics website. 

“In Brooks’ first season at USU, the Aggies set a program record with 256 made 3-pointers. Utah State also surpassed the program record for 3-point attempts with 889 attempts from behind the arc on the year,” the profile said. “Brooks helped freshmen Carlie Latta and Taliyah Logwood to Freshman of the Week honors from the Mountain West, the first weekly conference honors for the team since 2022. Under Brooks’ stewardship, the Aggies saw year-over-year improvements that ranked among the top in the nation for 3-pointers made and attempted per game and finished the season at 4-27, earning a 10-seed in the MW Tournament.” 

This is Brooks’ first full year of recruiting and navigating the transfer portal. He’s developed his own performance metric, rating teams and players on a scale from 0–100, akin to the player ratings used in video games “Madden NFL” or “NBA 2K.” 

When he analyzed his ratings for his team last year, the data showed tangible improvement, according to Brooks. Aggie players who began the season rated in the 30s and 40s climbed into the 50s and 60s by season’s end. 

Brooks said his crowning achievement in player development so far may have been the growth of Cheyenne Stubbs, who ended her college career on a scoring tear, averaging 21.9 points per game over her final eight games. 

“She was tremendous,” he said. “Even in her last game, a five-foot-six guard grabbing 14 rebounds and scoring 21 points — insane.”  

Now, Cheyenne is preparing for a professional career, and agents are taking notice of her talent. 

After years of experience as an assistant coach across multiple top women’s programs, Brooks stepped into the head coaching role facing new challenges.  

“Everything’s your fault,” Brooks said. “Even if it’s not, it is. That’s the reality of being a head coach.” 

The responsibility of shaping a program from the ground up is immense, but Brooks said it’s a challenge that fuels him.  

“You move over six inches, and it’s a different world,” he said, referring to the shift from assistant to head coach.  

As Utah State moves forward, the focus turns to the future, and that future includes a promising freshman class. With recruits like Aitana Rosello Lopez, Paloma Muñoz and Bella Cosme joining the fold, the emphasis has been on shooting and pace.  

“We prioritize skill. You have to have a high skill level to play for us,” Brooks said. “And you have to be able to run.” 

Lopez has played three-on-three with the Spanish national team, and Muñoz has already faced grown women in professional settings overseas. Their readiness to contribute at a high level could accelerate the program’s competitiveness, according to Brooks.  

The transfer portal has become an essential tool in college basketball, and Utah State is actively seeking ways to bridge the talent gap.  

Brooks used his ratings system to measure the Aggies’ performance last year, and the numbers are telling. While Utah State’s roster had an average rating of 47.5, conference leaders such as UNLV sat at 72.5.  

To close that gap, the program is focusing on fundraising for NIL opportunities.  

“If you go into the portal, you have to be prepared to spend money,” Brooks said. “We’re working hard on that.”  

The goal is to secure top-tier talent while ensuring players have an opportunity to develop their careers both at Utah State and beyond. 

Leading a women’s program that has seldom seen success, Brooks relishes the chance to make history. 

“I think I’m a fire-starter,” he said. “I think I’m a leader. I think I’m a pioneer. I know what it’s like, and I know what it takes.”   

Women’s basketball has never won their conference, let alone made the NCAA tournament. The program has only had six winning seasons over their 40-plus year history. That presents an opportunity for the current coaching staff to create something entirely new. 

“We’re basically an expansion team,” Brooks said. “We’re building from the ground up. So, I think that’s the challenge and exciting thing.” 

Investment in the program is key. While Utah State has long supported its men’s basketball and football programs, women’s basketball is beginning to receive the backing needed to compete at a higher level.  

“You have to invest if you want to have a product that’s worthwhile,” he said. “I think now people are waking up.” 

Beyond the court, Brooks has found a home in Logan. Assuming everything goes as planned, he envisions staying and building the program for the years ahead. 

Brooks’ daughter, just two years old, is already an Aggie fan, joining in “The Scotsman” with pride.  

“If she’s happy and loving it, then we have to be happy and loving it,” he said. 

The journey ahead is daunting for the young head coach, but for women’s basketball, the support from fans and the community continues to grow. With a committed coaching staff, an influx of fresh talent and a fanbase rallying behind them, the foundation is set for a new era of success, according to Brooks. 

“The investment is now here, and that’s going to give us an opportunity to be successful and build something that’s never been done here before,” he said. 

That level of investment into building a winning program will start with fan support. Brooks will soon create a QR code that redirects to the team’s NIL fund. For now, fans can visit blueacollective.com and make donations specifically designated for women’s basketball.