Jen at the table

 Welcome to this edition of the "The Coaching Journey," a newsletter dedicated to sharing insights and advice from experienced coaches. In this interview, we talk with Jen Brooks, Athletic Director at Ursuline Academy in St. Louis, Missouri. The conversation centers around Jen's career journey, the importance of relationships and attitude in sports, and the challenges of being a female in a male-dominated industry. They also discuss how to manage parent expectations in school sports, the value of multi-sport participation, and the emphasis on character development over accolades. Jen offers insights from her experience, emphasizing empathy, grace, and authenticity. 

 Hangin with the AD is an interview style podcast where Don Baker, Cobb County School District Director of Athletics, partners with Josh Mathews, Pope High School (GA) Athletic Director, to discuss hot topics and lessons learned with leaders in the world of athletics.  These leaders include high school athletic directors at the district and local school levels; college athletic administrators; leaders in spaces that connect to athletics such as nutrition, wellness, recruiting, student-athlete recognition; current and former athletes; and others, who can help athletic administrators develop themselves and their programs for a better daily experience for their athletic communities.     

Check out GoSOLO's interview with Jen.

Jen learned through this conversation the importance of having a "exit plan". Listen to the podcast to hear the story.

Listen to Jen's conversation with Gipper about the 50th anniversary of Title IX and much more!

• Dr. Lisa Langston, Director of Athletics at Fort Worth ISD
• Jen Brooks, Athletic Director at Ursuline Academy
• Yolanda Bronston, Girls Varsity Basketball Head Coach, St. John’s Country Day School
• Megan Kahn, CEO, WeCOACH

Jen was profiled in the Summer edition of Maryville University's Magazine.

Enjoy Jen's conversation with Tim Baghurst the director of Florida State Coach.

Enjoy Jen's conversation with the Globetrottin' ADs hosted by Matt Fleming, AIS Budapest and Nick DeForest, AIS Vienna

Enjoy Jen's conversation with Jim Powers from the High School Caravan and Scoops with Danny Mac chat about women in sports.

Jen had the honor of facilitating a National Girls and Women in Sports Day Celebration Webinar. Watch the webinar to hear Jen talk to Suzy Whaley, Kristin Folkl, Dr. Kerri Morgan, Dena Floyd, Bobbie Kelsey and Ellen Port about their experiences as a woman in sports.

Watch this video to see Jen receive her award.

Here is the link to the article from the St. Louis Post Dispatch: 

The Kirkwood Webster Times wrote an article about Jen entitled "Breaking the Glass Ceiling". Check out the article on the link below.

Here is a clip from Jen's conversation at the BreakThrough Summit .

 In the Supporting Women in Coaching panel, we had the privilege of hearing from a group of industry leaders who shed light on what it takes to build success around our female counterparts. As Jen Brooks, Athletic Director, Ursuline Academy (MO), put it, “We also have to keep in mind that there are many women who never had a coach look like them, so they may struggle to see themselves as a coach.” She stressed how it’s more important than ever to be planting the seed for young women and inviting them to come back and be part of this industry one day.  

Read this article about Jen in Voyage STL Magazine.

Read this article about Jen in the Ladue News.

 Check out the article that Jen had published in the Interscholastic Athletic Administration magazine.

 Jen Brooks grew up without role models that looked like her. Today, she’s changing a woman’s perception in a pre­dom­i­nant­ly male industry. Hear her story in the first episode of our Leaders series.  

Article by Beth Glennon

Photography by Trevor Hellman

Originally published in Kirkwood Lifestyle

In the 47  year history of the Missouri Athletic Director of the Year Award only 2 women have ever won the award...Jen is the second!

Check out this article from the St. Louis Review.

On today's episode of the Dynamic Leaders Podcast, Colin is joined by Jen Brooks. Jen is a high school athletic director and the founder of the Global Community of Women in High School Sports. The Global Community develops, connects, and advances women working in high school sports, helping to advance women into positions of influence.

Listen to Jen's conversation with Coach Heather Macy as they talk about empowering women to sit at the table!