Brad Rootes

Brad Rootes is the new full-time head coach of Brock’s men’s basketball program, Brock Athletics announced this week.

“We’re extremely excited to have such a decorated and recognized coach for our men’s basketball program,” said Chris Critelli, interim director of Athletics. “Brad’s success as a Brock student athlete will carry over to his team on the court and in the classroom.

“There aren’t many that have his passion for the game. Brad will have a significant impact on the game, our department and our community.”

At 26, Rootes is the youngest full-time head coach in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) and one of the youngest in North America. He is the sixth head coach in the program’s 43-year history.

“I am honoured and thrilled about the opportunity to coach at my alma mater,” Rootes said. “We have a storied history of great teams and players. I look forward to helping build on the past successes of the program, as well as continue to move it forward in a positive direction in the future.

“This is my dream job, being at home both at Brock and in the Niagara region.”

Rootes, a Niagara Falls native, has been part of Brock’s staff since the 2008-09 season as an assistant coach. This past season, he was interim head coach and lead the Badgers to a 14-16 overall record, highlighted by victories over Ottawa, Western, Windsor and Laurier.

He spent two seasons coaching for the Ontario Basketball Association. In 2009, Rootes led the U15 Team Ontario Boys to a gold medal at the national championships in Kamloops, B.C. In 2010, he was named head coach of the U17 Team Ontario Boys.

In 2008, as the captain of Brock’s CIS National Championship team, Rootes was named an OUA first team all-star for his fifth consecutive season. He became the first player at the University to be named a conference all-star all five seasons. He was also selected as the OUA West Player of the Year and a second team all-Canadian for his second straight season.

In the Brock record books, Rootes is the all-time leader in career free throws made (732-for-922) and steals (327). He also finished his university career ranked second all-time in scoring (2790), assists (1173) and three-pointers made (376-for-1059).

After graduating, Rootes played one season professionally in Ukraine for Politekhnika Halychyna of the Ukrainian Super League.

At the first annual Brock Basketball Gala in 2008, Rootes became the fourth Brock basketball player to have his jersey retired. In 2010, he was inducted into both the Niagara Falls Sports Hall of Fame and the A. N. Myer Sports Hall of Fame.

The Brock Badgers men’s basketball team will open their 2011-12 season with scheduled pre-season games in August versus NCAA Division I opponents.