Brooks, Herbert P.
Hockey
b. Aug. 5, 1937, St. Paul, MN
d. Aug. 18, 2003
Brooks played hockey at the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1959, and tried out for the 1960 U. S. Olympic team but was the last player cut from the squad. However, he played for the 1964 and 1968 Olympic teams and was also a member of the 1961, 1962, 1965, 1967, and 1970 national teams.
In 1972, Brooks became hockey coach at his alma mater. He guided Minnesota to NCAA Division I championships in 1974, 1976, and 1979 and then became coach of the U. S. national team.
A tough disciplinarian, Brooks was also an excellent organizer and motivator. Entering the 1980 Olympic hockey tournament, Brooks told his team, "You're meant to be here. This moment is yours. You're meant to be here at this time." The team upset the Soviet Union 4-3 and beat Finland 4-2 in its final game to take the gold medal.
Brooks turned down several NHL offers and coached a Swiss team in 1980-81, then returned to the U. S. to take over the New York Rangers of the NHL. He was named coach of the year by The Sporting News after the Rangers had a 39-27-14 record in his first season, but he was fired in January of 1985.
He coached St. Cloud State University in 1986-87 and was then named coach of the NHL's Minnesota North Stars. The team won only 19 games and he was replaced after the season. Brooks coached the New Jersey Devils to a 40-37-7 record in 1992-93, then resigned because of a dispute with management.
After coaching the French Olympic team in 1998, he guided the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 29-24-5 record in 1999-2000. His overall NHL record was 219 wins, 222 losses, and 66 ties.
In 2002, Brooks coached the U. S. Olympic team to a silver medal at Salt Lake City. He then turned down a multi-million-dollar offer from the New York Rangers because he didn't want to be away from his wife and family in Minnesota.
Brooks was killed when his minivan rolled over on a highway north of Minneapolis. He was returning to the Twin Cities from a celebrity golf tournament at the U. S. Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth, Minnesota.