On Wednesday morning, at the recommendation of Sylacauga City Schools Superintendent Dr. Michele Eller, the Sylacauga Board of Education approved Jay Brooks as the Aggies' head baseball coach. 

We are excited to promote Coach Brooks as the new head baseball coach at Sylacauga High School,"said Principal Gary Rivers. "SHS baseball has a great tradition and we feel Coach Brooks can structure and develop a program to honor that tradition. What stands out most to me is his passion and love for the game of baseball. We look forward to seeing what lies ahead with Coach Brooks at the reins." 

Brooks will be a familiar face for the Aggie program, serving as the lead assistant under Jeff Bell since the 2020 season. A former collegiate pitcher himself at Auburn University-Montgomery, Brooks was primarily focused on coaching the team's pitching staff. During the 2023 campaign, Brooks' starting pitchers sported a combined earned run average of 3.5, a feat that would lead the team to its first area championship and playoff series win since the 2019 season. Prior to assisting the varsity baseball program, Brooks served as the head softball coach for SHS from 2014-19, leading the team to its only area championship in school history (2019) and four regional tournament appearances. 

"This is an amazing and humbling opportunity for me. I never set out to be the head baseball coach at my alma-mater, but now that its official, its an overwhelming feeling of joy for me, personally, and my family. We love the city of Sylacauga, and we love Sylacauga athletics. I played here, my daughters went to school and played sports here. We are Sylacauga through and through," said Brooks. "I am very thankful for this chance to lead the program that helped mold me into the person I am today. I am especially thankful to principal Gary Rivers, Dr. Michele Eller, and athletic director Chad Wilkinson for believing in me, and giving me the chance of a lifetime." 

"I could not be more proud for Jay," said Wilkinson. "Jay knows so much about the game, having played and coached at a high level, and I know he will keep the program trending in the right direction."

Brooks, an 11-year veteran in the school system, graduated from SHS in 1992. After high school, Brooks signed a scholarship to Southern Union State Community College where he earned an Associates in Science degree and played baseball. While there, he was a member of the 1995 Junior College State Championship team. Brooks then transferred to Auburn University Montgomery to continue his education and athletic career. At AUM, Brooks was named to the All-Conference baseball team in 1996, leading the Senators to a conference championship. After graduating from AUM with a bachelor's degree in education, Jay worked in the golf industry for 13 years as an account executive for the Jerry Pate Company. In 2012, Jay went back to AUM to earn his master's in education, and was earned AUM's "Graduate Student of the Year" award. Since becoming an educator, Brooks has won multiple awards including Alabama Power's New teacher of the Year award and Joseph Morton Educator of the Year award. 

"We are excited to have Coach Brooks lead the Aggie baseball team," said Eller. "There's something special about leading a program you played in. We know Jay will take this role with a great sense of pride, and I have high expectations of him as the head baseball coach at Sylacauga High School." 

Brooks is married to his wife, Ami. The couple has two daughters, Ella Kate and Gracyn.