Get to Know the Crimson Tide Coaching Staff – Brooks Donald Williams
8/12/2025 12:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Follow along all week as we catch up with the women’s basketball coaching staff prior to the 2025-26 season
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Brooks Donald Williams will enter her first season with Alabama women's basketball after spending three seasons under head coach Kristy Curry from 2016-19. As a two-time Division I head coach, she will bring in an infectious personality, relentless work ethic and years of experience to Curry's coaching staff.
Williams elaborates more on Alabama's motto – "Grit, Love and Gratitude" – reflects on a few favorite moments during her coaching career and more in our second Q&A of the series.
Get to Know: Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Brooks Donald Williams
Describe the team's motto/standard – "Grit, Love and Gratitude"
The "Grit, Love and Gratitude" motto embodies everything that Kristy Curry is about. She is a tough, country girl from Olla, La., who has coached and led in this collegiate game with a great deal of toughness and always with a caring and grateful heart. That has carried over to her program and her players and staff have thrived under those pillars. I am grateful to be a part of something and someone I believe in wholeheartedly.
It's the end of practice, what are you sharing during GLG time?
Grateful to be here at Alabama with such a special group of people who share a very high standard in all areas, and who genuinely care about our student-athletes, their development and their lives long after they graduate.
What's one moment in your coaching career that's stayed with you – and why?
It's hard to pick one moment. Cutting down nets and winning championships are special, but I think it's the moments after the moments that are the most special. The graduations, the jobs, the weddings, the parenting – witnessing and following the biggest moments of a student-athletes' life long after the ball stops bouncing. Those are the ones that tend to stay with you the most. Seeing them carry it over and put the work ethic and dedication into their lives is what it's all about.
What's the biggest lesson you hope the student-athletes will take with them beyond their playing careers?
Having the courage to put your all into something despite what could or couldn't happen. Understanding it takes work to accomplish great things in life, jobs and relationships. Learning you can't do it on your own - you need a positive, encouraging, tough village around you who align with what you want from life.
When looking to add a player to the program, what qualities and attributes are you looking for?
A competitor who is tough, efficient, coachable, can put the ball in basket, loves the game and is making everyone around them better in some way. Someone who is willing to do the extra to be a champion. Someone who wants it more than the next. A great teammate!
