Brooke Atkinson begins her eighth season as an assistant coach with the New Mexico State women's basketball program. She is the second-longest tenured assistant coach in program history and has been instrumental in developing NM State's program since her hire in 2003.
During the 2009-10 campaign, Atkinson was an integral part of the staff that led NM State back to the postseason for the first time since 1994 when the school accepted a bid to play in the 2010 Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) in a first-round game at Arizona State on Mar. 17.
A big reason for the Aggies' success was senior guard/forward Crystal Boyd's play in the post. An All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Second Team selection, she started each game for the Aggies and posted a team-high eight double-doubles in 2009-10. Boyd led the team in points (15.3 ppg), rebounds (7.5 rpg), steals (72), blocks (51) and field goals made (184). She finished third in the WAC at 7.5 rebounds per game.
Freshman guard/forward Camila Rosen earned All-WAC Freshman Team honors after completing her season averaging 2.4 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.4 minutes of playing time per game. She placed second among NM State players who started games this season by shooting 44.3 percent from the field. Rosen also totaled a 14 blocks and 20 steals in her first year. The Berkeley, Calif., native scored a career-high 10 points against the Utah State, going 4-of-4 from the field including her first pair of career three-pointers at NM State
In 2005-2006, Atkinson was promoted from third assistant coach to second assistant in a year that saw the Aggies in their first of three straight conference tournament championship games.
Atkinson has many duties with the Aggies including assisting in recruiting and she is the position coach for the guards. She also serves as the coaching staff's academic liaison, helping to ensure each student-athlete's success in the classroom by conducting weekly academic meetings.
Since her promotion in 2006, 18 Aggies have been recognized by the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) on Academic All-Conference squads. After the 2009-10 season, the second-largest group of Aggies in program history earned conference academic accolades on the year-end list - one shy of the record seven players on the list in 1989.
In her time with the Aggies, Atkinson has aided in the development of eight all-conference players. Guard Crystal Boyd earned second team All-WAC honors after the 2009-10 season. Additionally, freshman guard Camila Rosen earned WAC All-Freshman Team honors.
Also last season, guard Madison Spence became the 17th member of the 1,000-point club and just the seventh Aggie to attain the feat prior to her senior campaign.
During the 2008-09 season, Atkinson aided Madison Spence to a place on the All-WAC second team. Her 113 made free throws that year are the most by a sophomore in school history. Atkinson also coached freshman guard Kaitlyn Soto to the WAC All-Freshman Team.
In 2007-08, Spence was named to the league's all-freshman team after her rookie campaign with the Aggies. Under Atkinson's guidance, she made the second-most 3-pointers and dished out the second-most assists ever by a freshman in program history.
After the 2006-07 season, Sherell Neal became the first Aggie ever to garner All-WAC honors as she was named to the second team. Neal made the first team in 2008 while fellow forward Anikia Jawara was named to the league's second team.
In 2004, Sinnamonn Garrett and former NM State assistant coach Princess Moore were both first team All-Sun Belt selections, marking just the fifth time in Aggie history that there were two NM State players named first team all-conference in the same season.
Atkinson played at Wichita State from 2000-02 and prior to that at Western Nebraska Community College from 1998-00. Atkinson averaged 2.2 points per game in 46 career games and shot 80 percent from the free-throw line. With the Shockers, she set a WSU single-game record by sinking six 3-pointers in a game.
During the 1999-2000 season, Atkinson averaged 7.1 points per game and 2.9 rebounds per game. She also had 77 steals and 127 assists.
She graduated from Wichita State in 2002 with her bachelor's degree in elementary education. In 2008, Atkinson received her master's degree in curriculum and instruction from New Mexico State.
