Jonesboro, GA – In the high-stakes world of high school football, one coach has carved out a legacy. Not just by building winning defenses, but by building futures. Ced Brooks, the defensive backs coach at Jonesboro High School has earned a reputation as one of the best in the business when it comes to molding raw talent into college ready athletes. As a former defensive back himself, Brooks combines an elite football IQ with a passion for player development that extends far beyond the field. His defensive backfield units consistently rank among the top in the county and state, but it’s his track record of sending athletes to the collegiate level that sets him apart. Over the years, many of Brooks former players have signed college letters of intent to top D1 programs, and even gone on to play in the NFL. Former Green Bay Packers safety Morgan Burnett, and current Pittsburg Steelers cornerback Cam Sutton were both coached by Brooks in high school. Now entering his 16th season at Jonesboro High School, Brooks shows no signs of slowing down. With another stacked secondary, and a new wave of talent, the legacy continues and so does the pipeline to the next level.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ced Brooks.

What first inspired you to become a coach?
I had a passion for the game as a player. I wanted to share that passion with people who had a similar up bringing as myself.

What’s the most rewarding part of coaching for you personally?
The most rewarding part of coaching is when I see kids reaching goals they never thought were possible.

How do you define success beyond wins and losses?
Winning is good, because everyone wants to win, but that is secondary for me. The most important thing for me is to getting kids to college.

What’s one lesson your players have taught you?
You can’t coach every player the same way. Each kid has a different skill set. Never force a player to fit in your scheme. Instead, fit your scheme around the skill set of the individual.

How do you help your athletes grow as people, not just players?
I want to help my players become the best possible version of themselves. When they are adults in the real world, they will be able to know what hard work, integrity, and perseverance looks like.

Share a moment that truly moved you during your coaching career?
Seeing some of my players come from nothing, to playing college football and making it to the NFL.

How do you keep your team motivated during tough times?
God and Faith; though teaching such as FCA etc..

What’s something your players might be surprised to know about you?
Although football gave me a future, basketball was my first love.

What’s the proudest moment you’ve experienced as a coach?
My proudest moments is when former players come back and show me love. Just to say “thank you” for getting me to a certain level.

How do you handle pressure and expectations as a coach?
I never put pressure on myself. As for expectations as coach, my motto is “Each One Teach One”, so the game comes natural to me.

What’s a fun ritual or superstition you have before games?
I can’t coach without having my back pack on.

How do you stay connected with former players?
Me and my former players have a strong bond. We are always a phone call away.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to young coaches just starting out?
Just because you played the game, doesn’t necessarily means you know how to coach it. This is my advice. Cater to each player skill set, and fit your techniques around the player.

What legacy do you hope to leave behind?
That I gave it my all to help the betterment of young people.

How has coaching shaped you as a person?
I have learned to be patience, and to never give up on a child. You never know how he will turn out.

How do you handle the emotional weight of being a role model for young athletes?

I handle it by being there for my players when they need someone to turn to. Showing them that they are not alone.

What’s your coaching philosophy?
It’s Hard It’s Fair!! If It Was Easy, Everyone Would Be Doing It.

What’s the most unexpected moment you’ve had as a coach?
I had a 4⭐️ safety transfer to another school in the middle of a game week. That hurt.

What’s the biggest life lesson you’ve learned from a certain loss?
Don’t ever get rattled, just play.

How do you nurture leadership within your team?
I nurture leadership by setting the standards from top to bottom.

What is one piece of advice you constantly repeat to your team?
“Each One Teach One”. Always set good examples because the players under you are watching.

What is the toughest coaching decision you ever had to make?
Moving a kid to another position, when he truly feels he can play that particular position.

How do you stay current with the game to keep evolving as a coach?
I attend coaching clinics. And as a former player myself, I have always been a student of the game.

What would your players say about you as a coach?
Coach Brooks Is A GOAT. He knows his stuff!!

How do you want to be remembered as a coach?
Coach Brooks was always loyal to the game, and that I gave it my all.