Canaan Brooks

University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

Title

Assistant Football Coach/Running Backs

Canaan Brooks joined the University of Central Oklahoma football program as a graduate assistant in January 2024 and coaches the running backs for the Bronchos.

Central Oklahoma went 11-2 in 2024, winning the MIAA title for the first time before qualifying for the NCAA Division II Football Championship and advancing to the Super Region III semfinals before losing to the eventual national champion.

Brooks coached one of the best running backs in the country in 2024, with Jaylen Cottrell earning All-American honors after a standout season. UCO had the No. 1 offense in the country and a top-15 rushing attack. Central averaged 538.4 yards of total offense per game, including 205.7 rushing yards per game. The Bronchos also averaged a school record 44.3 points per game.

Brooks is a former running back himself and an All-MIAA selection at the position. The St. Louis, Missouri native spent his final two seasons of college running for the Emporia State Hornets, where he amassed 1,300 yards and scored a dozen touchdowns while earning Honorable Mention and Second Team All-MIAA honors.

Brooks played his first two seasons at South Dakota, where he rushed for more than 600 yards and six touchdowns.