Steven Brooks Bio
Steven Brooks is an American former professional lacrosse player and current professional head coach, recognized for his significant contributions to the sport at every level. A two-time NCAA champion from his tenure at Syracuse University, he was selected sixth overall in the 2008 Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft by the Chicago Machine. Over his playing career, Brooks suited up for the Chicago Machine, Chesapeake Bayhawks, Florida Launch, and New York Atlas, earning multiple All-Star selections and championship titles along the way. After retiring as a player in 2019, he transitioned into coaching and helped lead the New York Atlas to their first Premier Lacrosse League championship in 2025 as an offensive coordinator.
Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 190 pounds, Brooks played the midfield position and shot left-handed, earning a reputation as one of the hardest-shooting midfielders in the game, with a recorded shot speed of 108 miles per hour. In addition to his playing accomplishments, he has been inducted into multiple halls of fame in recognition of his impact on the sport.
Early Life and Background
Steven Brooks was born in 1984 in Illinois, United States, and grew up in the state where he first developed his passion for lacrosse. He attended Libertyville High School in Libertyville, Illinois, where he played high school lacrosse and established himself as one of the most promising young players in the region. Following his high school graduation, he completed a postgraduate year at Bridgton Academy, a well-known preparatory program in Maine that has produced numerous collegiate lacrosse standouts.
That additional year of preparation helped Brooks refine his game and attract attention from top college programs. He eventually committed to Syracuse University, joining one of the most storied lacrosse programs in NCAA history. His upbringing in the Midwest, combined with his postgraduate experience in New England, gave him a broad foundation before stepping onto the national stage in college.
Path to Lacrosse
Brooks enrolled at Syracuse University in 2003 and immediately began contributing to the Syracuse Orange men’s lacrosse program. Over five seasons with the Orange, he developed into a premier midfielder, helping lead the team to NCAA Division I championships in 2004 and 2008. During his senior campaign in 2008, he earned first-team All-American honors and was awarded the McLaughlin Award as the nation’s top midfielder, capping one of the most decorated individual seasons in program history.
His college résumé also included impressive raw production, as he finished his Syracuse career with 67 goals, 34 assists, 86 ground balls, and 101 total points. That level of consistent two-way play, combined with his elite shooting ability, made him an attractive professional prospect. In 2008, he heard his name called early in both the National Lacrosse League and Major League Lacrosse drafts, beginning his professional journey as one of the most hyped young midfielders in the sport.
Steven Brooks Career
Early Career (2008-2010)
Steven Brooks began his professional career with the Chicago Machine after being selected sixth overall in the 2008 MLL Collegiate Draft. He enjoyed a breakout rookie season, appearing in 15 games and tallying 29 goals, 4 two-pointers, and 11 assists for 44 points while adding 26 ground balls. His strong play earned him a selection to the 2008 MLL All-Star team, and he also competed in the Bud Light Skills fastest shot competition that year.
His second season with the Machine in 2009 was cut short when he broke his foot just five games into the year against Boston, sidelining him for the remainder of the campaign. In 2010, Brooks played for Team STX in the LXM Pro Tour league and was also named to the 2010 Men’s USA Lacrosse National Training Team, though his broken foot kept him out of the final tryouts for the 2010 USA Lacrosse Team.
MLL Breakthrough (2011-2013)
In February 2011, Brooks was traded to the Chesapeake Bayhawks, where he would enjoy his most successful run as a professional player. During his first season in Chesapeake, he played in 12 games, recording 11 goals, 2 two-pointers, 5 assists, and 8 ground balls, and was named Bud Light MVP in a game against Hamilton. The following year, in 2012, he became a key contributor with 23 goals, 3 two-pointers, 10 assists, and 11 ground balls in the regular season before adding two goals and four assists in the playoffs to help the Bayhawks capture their fourth MLL Championship Title. He was again named to the MLL All-Star team and stuck the game-winning goal in the All-Star game to lead his Old School Team to victory.
In 2013, Brooks continued to produce for the Bayhawks, recording 13 goals, 1 two-pointer, 8 assists, and 10 ground balls during the regular season. In the playoffs, he scored a clutch goal with three minutes remaining in the semi-final championship game to tie the contest at 12, and the Bayhawks went on to score with one minute left to advance and ultimately win their fifth MLL Championship Title. He earned his third consecutive MLL All-Star selection that year and again competed in the Bud Light Skills fastest shot competition.
Florida Launch Era (2014-2018)
After struggling with a knee injury in 2014, Brooks was traded to the Florida Launch for the final four games of the season. He made an immediate impact, totaling 10 goals, 1 two-pointer, 4 assists, and 2 ground balls in those four appearances and demonstrating that he still had plenty to offer as an offensive threat. In 2015, he enjoyed a milestone campaign, eclipsing 100 career points and setting a career high with 24 goals in a season against Rochester on July 25.
He was named captain of the Launch for the 2017 season and led the franchise to its first-ever playoff appearance, scoring a hat trick against the Chesapeake Bayhawks along the way. In 2018, he served as captain for a second straight season, was named the Launch nominee for the MLL Dave Huntley Man of the Year Award, and played in every game for the club.
New York Atlas Era (2019)
In 2019, Steven Brooks joined the New York Atlas as a member of the newly formed Premier Lacrosse League, becoming part of the league’s inaugural season. After competing in the first-ever PLL campaign, he announced his retirement on September 24, 2019, closing out a 12-year professional playing career that spanned multiple leagues, teams, and championships.
Driving Style and Strengths
Brooks built his reputation as a power midfielder with one of the hardest shots in the sport, registering a 108 miles per hour left-handed shot and a 102 miles per hour right-handed shot during the 2012 Bud Light Skills competition. His combination of size, strength, and shooting velocity made him a matchup problem for opposing midfielders and a consistent contributor on both the offensive and defensive ends of the field.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his career highlights, Brooks scored the game-winning goal in the 2012 MLL All-Star game, netted a clutch game-tying goal in the 2013 MLL semi-finals, eclipsed 100 career points in 2015, played in his 100th MLL game in 2017, and made ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10 plays at number eight with a behind-the-back goal off a Casey Powell assist in 2015.
Steven Brooks Career Wins
Steven Brooks compiled an impressive championship résumé across both his playing and coaching career, capturing titles at the collegiate, professional, and international levels. He is a two-time NCAA champion, a two-time MLL champion, a Premier Lacrosse League champion, and a PLL Championship Series title holder.
NCAA and MLL Highlights
Brooks won NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championships with Syracuse in 2004 and 2008, earning first-team All-American honors and the McLaughlin Award in his final collegiate season. As a professional, he helped the Chesapeake Bayhawks capture MLL Championship Titles in 2012 and 2013, including a dramatic playoff run that featured his clutch game-tying goal in the 2013 semi-finals.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his championships, Brooks was a three-time MLL All-Star, won two Bud Light MVP honors during his time with the Bayhawks, captained the Florida Launch to their first-ever playoff appearance in 2017, and was later inducted into the Bridgton Academy Hall of Fame in 2023, the Libertyville High School Hall of Fame, and the Illinois Sports Hall of Fame in 2025.
Steven Brooks Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information regarding Steven Brooks’s family background remains limited, and detailed records about his parents and immediate relatives have not been widely published.
Personal Life
Steven Brooks has kept much of his personal life private, and confirmed details about a spouse or children are not publicly available. He remains closely tied to the Illinois lacrosse community, having grown up in Libertyville and continued to coach in the region.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a landmark year for Steven Brooks in his role as offensive coordinator of the New York Atlas. He helped lead the team to their first Premier Lacrosse League championship, capping the season with a 14-13 victory over the Denver Outlaws in September 2025. Despite losing attackman Xander Dickson to injury before halftime of the final, Brooks’s offensive system adapted on the fly, with rookie Matt Traynor scoring key goals and Bryan Costabile delivering a decisive 97 miles per hour shot to seal the title.
Earlier in the year, Brooks had also served as acting head coach for the Atlas during the 2025 Championship Series, guiding the team to a dominant 25-13 opening win over the Maryland Whipsnakes and a competitive group stage that included a close 20-23 loss to the Utah Archers. Although the Atlas were edged out in overtime by the Boston Cannons in the semifinals of the Championship Series, Brooks’s leadership and play-calling established the Atlas as one of the league’s most dynamic teams.
Looking ahead, Brooks’s success in 2025 positioned him as a rising coaching star in the sport, with his first PLL championship as a coach solidifying his reputation and setting the stage for future opportunities at the professional level.
