Brooke Atkinson begins her fifth season as the head coach of NM State in 2021-22. Atkinson was named the 11th head coach in Aggie women’s basketball history on May 3, 2017.
Few head coaches in the nation had to navigate the challenges Atkinson and her staff did through a disjointed 2021-22 campaign. Unable to play and games or conduct full practices in the state of New Mexico due to in-state COVID-19 restrictions, NM State relocated to Arizona from November of 2020 until late January of 2021. Upon returning to New Mexico in late January of 2021, NM State was able to hold full practices within state lines but was still unable to host athletic competitions of any kind. The Aggies played what was left of their "home" schedule at Eastwood High School in El Paso, Texas, and despite the numerous challenge still managed to win four of their last five tilts of the season while advancing to the WAC Tournament semifinals yet again.
The Aggies' 2019-20 season - like the rest of college basketball - came to a premature end in the 2019-20 campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That season, NM State advanced to the semifinals of the WAC Tournament at the time the season came to its abbreviated conclusion.
Under Atkinson’s guidance, Gia Pack became the fifth leading scorer in NM State history with 1,672 points, Pack is the second top-5 scorer coached by Atkinson, joining former teammate Brooke Salas who ended her career second on the list.
The 2018-19 season was another banner year for the Aggies with Atkinson at the helm. NM State won its fifth-straight WAC regular season championship, the WAC tournament Championship and earned its fourth trip to the NCAA tournament in the last five years. During the season, NM State went on a 17-game winning streak, tied for longest in program history. The Aggies wrapped up 2018-19 with a 26-6 overall record and a 15-1 mark in WAC play. New Mexico State’s 26 wins tied a program record.
Along with winning a regular-season title, Atkinson guided the Aggies to their fourth WAC tournament title in the last five years.
Atkinson also helped guide the Aggies to multiple postseason awards. Brooke Salas earned her second-consecutive WAC Player of the Year and All-Defensive team honors while the senior also earned WAC Defensive Player of the Year. Salas is the only player in WAC history win the WAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season. Also under Atkinson’s watch, Gia Pack became the 24th 1,000-point scorer in Aggie history during a game at Chicago State on Feb. 2 and she received First-Team All-WAC honors for the second year in a row. Pack also earned WAC Tournament MVP honors after breaking the tournament scoring record (86 points). Stabresa McDaniel was named to the WAC All-Newcomer team.
NM State posted the third-best scoring defense in the WAC (64.0) while holding opponents to .378 shooting from the field, second-best in the conference. Individually, Salas paced the conference in points (19.1) and rebounds (11.1).
In 2017-18, Atkinson earned WAC Coach of the Year honors and helped lead the Aggies to their fourth consecutive WAC regular-season championship. Atkinson coached NM State to their fourth straight postseason appearance as well, with the programs first bid to the WNIT since 2010. The Aggies finished 2017-18 with an overall record of 18-13 and an 11-3 mark in Western Athletic Conference action to win the league.
In addition to her honor as Coach of the Year, Atkinson and NM State earned five postseason individual accolades in the WAC in 2017-18. Atkinson coached star junior Brooke Salas to WAC Player of the Year honors. Salas was also placed on the WAC All-Defensive Team and was named First Team All-Conference for the second straight season. Gia Pack earned First Team All-Conference honors and Monique Mills was named to the WAC All-Newcomer team.
Atkinson helped guide Salas to become the 23rd member of the 1,000 point club in program history. Salas accomplished the feat in a home win against Chicago State on January 6, 2018.
Under Atkinson's watch, NM State led the conference in field-goal percentage (.426) in 2017-18. Individually, Salas paced the league in scoring average (19.1), point guard Zaire Williams led the league in assists per game (5.1) and Salas put together the best free throw percentage (.835) in the conference.
Atkinson joined NM State after spending the past three seasons at Colorado State University. However, Atkinson is no stranger to Las Cruces as the Colorado native spent eight seasons on the Aggie bench from 2003-11.
In her three seasons in Fort Collins, Colo., the Rams enjoyed three-consecutive Mountain West Conference regular-season titles, including an NCAA appearance during the 2015-16 campaign – their first appearance in the Big Dance in 14 years (2002).
Her first season with CSU (2014-15) resulted in in a 23-8 overall mark and 15-3 record in Mountain West play. The Rams also appeared in the WNIT for the second-straight season, the first time Colorado State has made back-to-back postseason appearances since the 2002-04 seasons.
With Atkinson’s help, Colorado State has now produced the last three MWC Players of the Year with Ellen Nystrom laying claim to her second-straight player of the year accolade this past season.
Prior to joining the Rams, Atkinson spent three seasons at the University of South Dakota (2011-14) where she initially worked under current CSU Rams head coach Ryun Williams in her first season. The Coyotes enjoyed postseason berths in all three years Atkinson was in Vermillion, S.D., including South Dakota’s first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament appearance in 2014.
The Coyotes claimed their first Summit League Tournament Championship in 2014 as well, beating out in-state rival South Dakota State 82-71 in route to its first NCAA Tournament appearance. Atkinson also led the ‘Yotes to the conference tournament championship game in 2012-13. USD also advanced to the WBI Tournament semifinals that year and fell to the eventual champions, McNeese State.
Atkinson’s first season with South Dakota resulted in the Coyote’s first 20-plus win season as a Division I member institution. USD finished the 2011-12 campaign 23-8 overall and 12-6 in the Summit League – good for third – while earning its first WNIT bid. The ‘Yotes reached the second round of the WNIT with a 61-53 victory over Drake before falling to Colorado 64-55.
Before joining South Dakota, Atkinson coached at New Mexico State for eight seasons (2003-11). While in Las Cruces, she helped the 2009-10 Aggies reach the postseason for the first time in 16 years.
As a player, Atkinson started her career at Western Nebraska Community College (1998-00) before finishing her collegiate career at Wichita State (2000-02). Her 127 assists during the 1999-00 campaign still ranks seventh all-time while her 77 steals that season ranks 18th in Cougars history. In addition, Atkinson’s 203 career-assists at WNCC sit at No. 10 all-time. Meanwhile, her .328 career shooting clip from 3-point range at Wichita State places her 13th in Shockers history.
Atkinson graduated from Wichita State in 2003 with a bachelor’s in elementary education and earned a master’s degree in educational curriculum from New Mexico State in 2008.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT COACH ATKINSON…
Danielle Donehew
Executive Director – Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association
“The WBCA celebrates when a successful assistant women’s basketball coach is rewarded with their first head coaching position. Brooke Atkinson has proven herself as an assistant coach over the last 15 years as a contributing member of conference championship-winning staffs at New Mexico State, South Dakota and most recently Colorado State. Now she has been given the opportunity to lead a program of her own. Congratulations, Brooke, on your return to New Mexico State as head coach of the Aggies!”
Ryun Williams
Head Coach – Colorado State University
“New Mexico State hired a good one! Brooke will be an exceptional head coach and is no doubt ready for this amazing opportunity. She is a tireless worker who understands championship culture and character. Fans will be excited to support this amazing young woman and will enjoy watching her teams compete.”
Amy Williams
Head Coach – University of Nebraska – Lincoln
“New Mexico State University made a terrific hire for their women’s basketball program with Brooke Atkinson. She has had a positive impact on every program for which she has worked. Her ability to make positive connections with young women makes her an extremely effective leader and recruiter. The future looks very bright for the Aggies women’s basketball program.”
Tamara Inoue
Head Coach – UC Irvine
“Brooke is a tireless worker and values the commitment to winning championships. She has huge respect for New Mexico State and will do everything to represent the University in a positive light. I’m excited for the future of the Aggies under the leadership of Brooke Atkinson.”
