Donnie Brooks

Donnie Brooks was named the Director of Athletics at Macalester College in January of 2019. In May of 2024, he was promoted to Associate Vice President for Student Affairs/Director of Athletics.

Since arriving at Macalester, Brooks has overseen steady competitive improvement across all 21 intercollegiate athletics programs. Twelve student-athletes in track & field, swimming, cross country and tennis have qualified for NCAA national championships during his tenure, earning seven All-American honors and one national title. In the fall of 2025, the men’s soccer team won the MIAC Playoff championship and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Macalester also has had 11 Academic All-Americans since 2019.

Brooks also created Scots LEAD, a personal, professional and leadership development program for Macalester’s student-athletes. The additions and improvements made during Brooks’ tenure at Macalester all are inspired by the department’s core values of Community, Develop and Compete, which were chosen and defined by department staff under Brooks’ guidance. In 2024, Brooks co-chaired the mascot committee for Macalester’s new athletics identity, which yielded Coo the Highland Cow.

Also active on a national level, Brooks has served on several committees. He was recently named to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators, and is currently a member of the NCAA Division III Management Council. Brooks also has been a member of the Minority Opportunities in Athletics Association (MOAA) since 2011.