Few athletes in the history of the Linfield men’s soccer program can match the scoring prowess of 2024 Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee Jeff Brooks.
In the 50 seasons that Linfield has offered men’s soccer as a varsity sport, the Benson Tech graduate is one of just three Wildcats to ever reach the 80-point plateau. In the span of his three-year playing career, Jeff racked up 32 goals and 16 assists over 48 matches. He continues to hold the Linfield single-season record for goals per match (0.67) and ranks second for assists per match (0.33).
His place in Linfield’s hallowed Hall of Fame nearly never happened. Jeff came close to attending another school to play soccer, but decided that the legacy of his grandparents, who both graduated from Linfield in 1932, plus the generous financial aid package that was offered, were strong enough reasons to convince him to enroll.
Soccer had been established as a varsity sport at Linfield fewer than 10 years before Jeff arrived as a freshman in 1983.
That first season playing under divisive coach Marty Bouveron, Linfield won seven matches. Jeff remembers the 1983 team as being “competitive, but lacking cohesion. I helped establish a ‘will to win’ among the players.”
Former teammate, John Cassinerio, says “Jeff brought speed, agility, skill and strategy to a young program that was in dire need of a positive influence. He could see the pitch in a strategic way that we had not encountered until he came aboard.”
Once the 1983 season reached a conclusion, Jeff approached Linfield athletic director Ad Rutschman with a plea to bring in a more experienced coach.
He got his wish. John Morton, who had coached Jeff in youth soccer since he was 8 years old, was hired. Playing a rugged schedule that included regional powers University of Portland and Warner Pacific, the Wildcats elevated their season record to 8 wins, 5 losses and 3 ties.
Jeff’s junior season was, in his words, “a rebuilding year,” mainly due to the loss of a strong class of seniors. Individually, Jeff established a single-season scoring record 12 goals, many of them coming on free kicks, including a lofting 60-yard strike that somehow found the back of the net all the way from across the midfield line.
He suffered a serious knee injury during the summer before his senior year. That spelled an end to a Linfield playing career that had come be known for its remarkable consistency. Jeff scored at least nine goals and registered no fewer than five assists in each of his three active seasons. A three-time conference all-star, he earned the respect of his teammates and was appointed Wildcats’ team captain.
Among the Linfield records Jeff holds are marks for most goals (5) and points (10) in a single contest, set against Western Baptist (now Corban) in 1984.
Turning down the opportunity for a redshirt season, Jeff went on to complete his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1987. He eventually returned to Linfield to take the reins of the men’s soccer program from 1991 until 1993.
He recalls his time as a player and coach at Linfield as both “fun and challenging. We overcame a lot of imposed demands but we were successful and had very competitive squads. I was always proud to play and coach at Linfield. I felt I brought some credibility to the program that laid the groundwork for the success of future teams.”
Jeff went on to spend 16 seasons as head boys soccer coach at Mountain View High School in Vancouver, leading the Thunder to the 1993 Washington state championship and a No. 10 ranking in USA Today national poll. His teams won four Greater St. Helens League championships and he finished his tenure with 229 career victories.
His coaching resume also includes time as head boys soccer coach at Benson High School and as an assistant coach at Jesuit High School. He contributed his soccer acumen to the Oregon Olympic Development program, the Oregon Youth Association, and the West Villa Soccer Club.
Today, Jeff is a Wealth Manager and co-owner of City Fiduciary Group, a financial services agency in southwest Washington. His hobbies include camping and cooking. He and his wife, Christina, reside in Washougal, Washington. Their son, Brandon, went on to play soccer at Linfield for two seasons 30 years after his father competed for the Wildcats. Their eldest son, Shawn, recently retired after serving for 20 years in the Oregon National Guard.
