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Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks, who rebuilt the University of Oregon football program, will be inducted into the University’s Athletics Hall of Fame during ceremonies on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 2-3, in Eugene, Ore.

Brooks took over a struggling program at Oregon in 1977 eventually built the team into a Pacific 10 Conference power. In 1989, the Ducks won the Independence Bowl, the school’s first bowl trip in 26 years. In 1994, his final season at Oregon, Brooks guided his team to its first undisputed Pac 10 championship in 46 years and its first Rose Bowl appearance in 37 years.
Brooks was the first Oregon coach to take a team to four bowl games and also the first to go to post-season play in back-to-back seasons. He was named the National Coach of the Year for the ’94 season and was Pac 10 Coach of the Year twice during his term there. He also laid the foundation for continued success. His successor, former Brooks assistant Mike Bellotti, has had a winning season in 11 of 12 years since Brooks’ departure.
In addition to Brooks’ term as head football coach, he also was the school’s director of athletics from 1992-94. In honor of his many accomplishments at Oregon, the football stadium’s playing surface was named Brooks Field in 1995. Brooks will be formally inducted to the Hall of Fame during a banquet on Friday night and will be introduced at halftime of Saturday’s Oregon-Arizona State game.

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