Louisiana Tech hires Keelon Brookins as cornerbacks coach

Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie announced the addition of cornerbacks coach Keelon Brookins on Friday.

“Keelon Brookins will make an immediate impact in the lives of our defensive backs on and off the field,” Cumbie said. “He will use his experience as a player and now as a coach to mold our players into successful young men. We cannot wait to get Keelon, Olivia, Hendrix, and Harlee to Ruston.”

Brookins arrives in Ruston after coaching with newly appointed defensive coordinator Jeremiah Johnson the previous seasons at Northern Iowa (2023, 2018-2021) and Kent State (2022).

“This is a great position for my family and I,” Brookins said. “I get to come back to my southern roots and coach high level ball. I am coming down to join an elite staff and elite football culture. I look forward to working on developing a group of defensive backs with a potential to shoot for the stars. We are going to strive to get 1% better each day and focus on what it takes to become champions. We will put in the work to be champions through our everyday habits.”

“I am looking forward to getting to Ruston and working hard to take the program to new heights,” Brookins added.

In 2023, Brookins’, defensive backs combined for seven interceptions, 11 pass breakups, and 301 total tackles. He tutored UNI senior defensive back Woo Governor who earned First-Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors after tallying 62 total tackles, including three for loss with two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

While at Kent State, Brookins played a large role in the success of Third Team All-MAC defensive back Nico Bolden who led the Golden Flashes with 103 total tackles and ranked ninth nationally in solo tackles per game with 5.7.

During Brookins’ first stint at Northern Iowa (2018-2021), he was instrumental in the development and coaching of nine all-conference defensive backs while helping the Panthers reach the FCS Playoffs three times during his first four years on staff, including a trip to the FCS quarterfinals in 2019.

Brookins’ defensive backs played a large role in the Panthers’ 14 interceptions in 2021 to aid the efforts of the nation’s 13th ranked scoring defense at 18.0 points allowed per game. Defensive backs Benny Sapp III (First-Team) and Omar Brown (Honorable Mention) were named All-MVFC.

Despite the COVID-19-shortened spring season in 2021, three UNI defensive backs earned all-league honors under Brookins’ tutelage as the Panthers’ secondary played a vital role in the nation’s sixth ranked scoring defense, yielding just 15.3 points a game.

The 2019 season saw the Panthers defense intercept 19 passes while score four defensive touchdowns which ranked third and fourth in the country, respectively. Four Panther defensive backs earned postseason All-MFVC distinction, headlined by first-team selection Omar Brown ranked third nationally with three fumbles recovered while his sixth interceptions ranked 20th.

In 2018, the Panthers ranked sixth nationally in interceptions with 18 as part of a defense that ranked seventh nationally in defensive touchdowns (4) and 17th nationally in scoring defense (21.3). Defensive back Xavior Williams earned First-Team All-MVFC honors after recording 42 total tackles, 29 solo tackles, and four interceptions.

Prior to his coaching career, Brookins played at Wisconsin (2013-16) before transferring to UNI in 2017. He recorded 33 tackles with six tackles for loss, four sacks and a pair of interceptions to earn MVFC All-Newcomer Team honors as a senior while helping the Panthers earn a trip to the second round of the FCS playoffs.

Brookins graduated from Wisconsin in 2016 with a degree in education before obtaining his master’s degree in Leisure, Youth and Human Services from Northern Iowa in 2022. A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, he is married to his wife Olivia Arkell-Brookins and has a son, Hendrix, and daughter, Harlee.