Dan Brooks

Dan Brooks was born in Iola, Kansas, and after living in Moran, Fort Scott and Emporia, his parents Robert and Nancy Brooks moved their family to Topeka in 1969. Dan graduated from Topeka West High School in 1974 where he participated in football, wrestling and baseball. He was selected to play in the first Kansas Shrine Football Game along with former Red Ravens, Rudy Polchlopek and Brad Wagner.

Coach Charlie Cooper recruited him to Coffeyville along with his high school teammates and fellow offensive linemen Barry Feaker and Carl Ice. Dan was fortunate to be a part of Coach Dick Foster’s first team, that magical year of 1975. The 11-0 Wool Bowl Champions were led by such Hall of Fame greats as Ron Springs, Tim Pivonka, Nick Howell and Rob Fulton. Dan was selected First Team All-Conference and First Team All-American as Center in 1975. He received the Hall of Fame Award at the team’s award ceremony and was honored to be voted co-captain of that great team with Kent Newby.

Wanting to stay close to his family, Dan signed with Washburn University and started two years as center and received All-Conference Honors in 1977. He graduated in 1979 with a degree in Education and has taught and coached in the Topeka Washburn Rural school district for 28 years. He fondly remembers having Jeff Leiker as a student teacher in physical education.