Derrick Brooks Joins USF Athletics as Chief Operating Officer

The Hall of Fame linebacker brings his expertise and character to help guide student-athletes in the modern era of college sports.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Derrick Brooks, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker and Pro Football Hall of Famer, has joined the University of South Florida (USF) athletics department as the new Chief Operating Officer. Brooks, who has deep family ties to the university, will work closely with USF Athletics CEO Rob Higgins to provide leadership and guidance to the department's 500 student-athletes during a time of significant change in college sports.

Why it matters

Brooks' hiring is seen as a major coup for USF, as he brings not only his extensive business acumen from roles with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Tampa Bay Sports Commission, but also his reputation as a respected leader and role model. His presence is expected to help USF student-athletes navigate the new landscape of name, image and likeness (NIL) deals and the transfer portal.

The details

In his new role, Brooks will oversee the day-to-day operations of the USF athletics department. He has a long-standing professional relationship with Higgins, who was previously the executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. The two worked together to help bring major sporting events to the Tampa Bay region, including the Super Bowl and NCAA tournaments. Brooks' family also has deep ties to USF, with three of his four children either attending or working at the university.

  • Brooks accepted the COO position in late October 2025.
  • Brooks previously worked for 15 years with the Tampa Bay Lightning, winning two Stanley Cup championships.

The players

Derrick Brooks

A Pro Football Hall of Famer and former linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brooks is the new Chief Operating Officer of the University of South Florida athletics department.

Rob Higgins

The CEO of Athletics at the University of South Florida, Higgins previously served as the executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission and has a long-standing professional relationship with Brooks.

Will Weatherford

The chair of the USF Board of Trustees since 2021 and a former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, Weatherford co-chaired Super Bowl LV with Brooks.

Bobby Bowden

The legendary former head football coach at Florida State University, where Brooks played as an All-American linebacker.

Geraldine Brooks

Derrick Brooks' mother, who had a memorable phone call with Coach Bowden during Brooks' freshman year at Florida State.

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What they’re saying

“To be able to have someone of the character and mindset of Derrick to be part of our senior leadership in the COO position was critical especially when you think about there being no better role model for our student-athletes.”

— Rob Higgins, CEO of Athletics, University of South Florida (Forbes)

“At a time when most people would say there's a lot of turmoil, a lot of uncertainty, a lot of moving parts, why not jump into this particular fire and play a part of putting it out and giving it some direction?”

— Derrick Brooks, Chief Operating Officer, University of South Florida Athletics (Forbes)

What’s next

Brooks and Higgins are expected to work closely together to modernize and professionalize the USF athletics department, with a focus on supporting the university's 500 student-athletes during a time of significant change in college sports.

The takeaway

Derrick Brooks' hiring as the Chief Operating Officer of USF Athletics represents a major coup for the university, as they bring on a respected leader, role model, and business executive to help guide their student-athletes through the evolving landscape of college sports.