Bio

Former Hornet standout player and longtime coach Brian Crooks enters his 25th overall season on the Hornets coaching staff. Before taking over the defensive coordinator duties in 2010, Crooks seved as the defensive line coach for the Hornets.

Crooks helped over 75 Hornet defensive linemen earn four-year scholarships — five gaining JC All-American status, while coaching the defensive line in his first 11 years at Fullerton. During his time as the Defensive Coordinator, the Fullerton Defense has been known as one of the best and hardest hitting in the state of California.

Crooks was a standout nose guard for Fullerton College in 1993 and 1994.

He weighed just 215 pounds as an interior player — easily the lightest defensive lineman in the conference — but that didn't stop him from be voted All-Mission Conference both seasons.

He transferred to Adams State College in Colorado, added only five pounds, and earned All-Conference honors yet again.

Crooks, a Cypress native, was a star in football and track at Servite High School earning All-Orange County his senior year of football.

He earned his bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from Cal State Fullerton, and received his Master's and Credential in Education from National University.

Crooks was hired as a full time instructor at Fullerton College in 2008, where he teaches in the Physical Education Department.

Two of his younger brothers also played at Fullerton College: Chris, a tight end transferred to Sacramento State; and Jeff, a former All-Conference quarterback, transferred and played at Eastern Michigan University.