FDU-Florham filled one of its two head basketball coaching vacancies on Friday when the school announced Melissa Brooks as its new women's coach. Brooks replaces Marc Mitchell who took the head coaching job at Division I St. Peter's in March.
"I am thrilled to come back to the New Jersey area, a place I can call home, and to work under the leadership of [athletic director Jenn Noon] who is ready to grow this athletic department into a hard-working close-knit group," Brooks said in the school's release. "I am eager to bring my energy and materials from all the successful head coaches I have worked and played for in the past and continue to build upon the success of this program."
Brooks spent the past two seasons as an asssistant coach on Dave McGarity's staff at Division I Army West Point. Prior to that Brooks was the lead assistant to Megan Haughey at Stevens and was part of the staff that led the Ducks to the NCAA Tournament sectional semifinals in 2016. She also spent time as an assistant at Washington College and Marymount.
Friday was also the first day for Noon as FDU-Florham's athletic director. Noon had been the school's assistant athletic director before her promotion and is also the head coach for field hockey and women's golf.
"Our women's basketball program has had much success over the years and we know Melissa Brooks is going to continue that tradition," Noon said in the school's release.
Brooks takes over for Marc Mitchell who led the Devils to national prominence and the 2014 national championship during his nine-year tenure before making the jump to head coach at Division I St. Peter's.
FDU-Florham won the MAC Freedom Conference title with a 22-7 record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season.
The 2005 Bucks County (Pa.) High School Player of the Year, Brooks was inducted into the Neshaminy High School Hall of Fame in 2012. She graduated from Holy Family in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in Media Arts Communications.
The school is also conducting a search to fill its men's head basketball coaching vacancy after dismissing Peter Marion.