Payton Brooks Named Baylor Swimming’s Head Coach

Baylor School has announced that Payton Brooks, the Assistant Swim Coach for Virginia Tech, has been named Head Swimming Coach for the Red Raiders. 

“Payton is everything that we were looking for in a head swim coach.  He has been an integral part of successful programs at a variety of levels and reputably builds a strong rapport with his athletes,” said Baylor School Athletic Director Mark Price.  “I am eager for our student-athletes to have the opportunity to develop under his leadership, and I am confident that he willcontinue to build upon the success of this tradition rich program.”

 

Brooks joined the Hokie staff as the assistant in 2019; he played a role inleading the Tech men to 11th place finishes at the NCAA Championships the past two seasons – the highest finishes in school history.

The Tech women finished 21st and 23rdrespectively, earning the lady Hokies the second and thirdhighest finishes for the program. Through these performances, the Hokies earned 42 All-American honors. 

“I’d like to thank Head of School Chris Angel, Athletic Director Mark Price, and the Baylor community for the opportunity to lead this program,” said Brooks.  “I am humbled and honored to be part of such a prestigious institution with rich traditions of excellence both in the classroom and in the pool. Together, we will continue to build upon that success but most importantly - we will be dedicated to the development of strong character and values for our athletes.”

 

Brooks also assists with Pinnacle Racing at Virginia Tech (PRVT). This group hosted professional athletes from around the world preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Six athletes from this group went to compete at the games, with a notable performance from Santo Condorelli winning a silver medal in the 400 Free Relay.

 

Prior to joining the Hokies, Brooks took to the head coaching ranks at Alderson Broaddus University, a private university in Philippi, West Virginia, for the 2014-15 season. During his time with the Battlers, both the men’s and women’s teams scored the most points in school history as well as their best overall finishes at the conference championship meet. They broke 12 school records on the men’s side and six for the women. At Alderson Broaddus, his duties also included Aquatics Director.

Brooks served as an assistant coach at The Bolles School from 2012-2014 for the Senior High School, Age-Group and Professional Group.  His coaching accomplishments at Bolles include:

 

He also acted as the Assistant Director of the Bolles Sharks Swim Camp and was a Residential Staff member for the Bolles School Boarding Program. He and his wife served as Dorm Parents/Residential Staff to the students residing on campus.

 

Brooks was a member of the West Virginia University swim team under Sergio Lopez Miro. During his four-year college swimming career, he helped WVU win their first (2007) Big East Championship title in the school’s history. That season also marked the first team in school history to go undefeated (13-0) and finish the year ranked 20th in the country. He specialized in sprint freestyle events and was a five-time All-Big East performer. Also, while at WVU, he was on the all-time top 10 performance list in the 50, 100 and 200 Freestyle, 200 and 400 Medley Relay, and the 200, 400 and 800 Freestyle Relays.

 

In his fifth year of athletic eligibility, he joined the WVU football team as a wide receiver. He was named the Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year and was part of the Gator Bowl team in 2010. Brooks graduated from West Virginia University with a B.A. in Physical Education and Sport Sciences with a focus in Athletic Coaching.

 

A native of Hurricane, W.V., Brooks is married to the former Madisen Meadows. The Brooks’ have three children: Stone, Meadow and Bo.