Young Unveils Assistant Coaching Staff

SEATTLE – Michael Brooks, Rachel Swartz, GeAnna Luaulu-Summers and Makala Roper have all been named assistant coaches on the Seattle U women's basketball staff, Head Coach Skyler Young announced Monday.

"I am blessed, excited and grateful for this passionate and energizing staff we have assembled," Young said. "Michael, Rachel, GeAnna and Makala will be a hardworking and fun group to establish our elite vision for the Seattle U women's basketball program. We cannot wait to get started and establish relationships with the Seattle U community, alums, fans, the city of Seattle and recruits from coast to coast and show them the Passion, Hustle, Determination and Servanthood this group of coaches will bring to the table."

Brooks makes the move to Seattle after spending the previous year as the Director of Student Advocacy, Outreach and Inclusion at Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha, Neb., where he also served as the sophomore head football coach and track and field's head sprint coach. Prior to Creighton Preparatory School, Brooks served as the Credit Recovery Specialist within the Rapid City Area Schools district for four years and spent four seasons as the head coach of the girl's basketball team at Rapid City Stevens School in Rapid City, S.D. Brooks' led the Raiders to at least 17 wins in each of his four season, highlighted by a 19-win campaign in 2017-18 and holding an overall record of 71-26.

A native of Omaha, Neb., Brooks spent six total seasons at Bradley University. He began the first of two stints in 2009-10 as the director of operations. Following a one-year break, he returned in 2011-12 as an assistant coach, then took over as the head coach from 2012-16. Between his two stints on the Bradley staff, Brooks was the co-head coach at Central Methodist University (2010-11). He also served as an assistant coach for the Eagles during the 2006-07 and 2008-09 seasons.

A four-year football letterwinner at Western State University, Brooks earned his undergraduate degree in communications and theater in 2004. He went on to add a master's degree in education from Central Methodist in 2009.

"What I respect most about Michael is that he has the student athletes' best interest at heart," said Young. "Michael is a tireless worker, excellent communicator, coach and recruiter. He possesses a great defensive mind and together with our staff we will bring a no one out works us mentality on both ends of the floor. Michael brings a wealth of experience to our program from coaching at the Division I level all the way down to the grassroots level. It is a tremendous opportunity to work with Michael again as we look to build an elite program at Seattle U."

Swartz makes her return to the Pacific Northwest after spending last season on staff at Saint Mary's. Prior to working with the Gaels, Swartz spent two seasons as the head coach at Davis and Elkins College. Swartz was named the head coach of the Senators prior to the 2020-21 season after a stint at Everett Community College.

Swartz began her coaching career at East Tennessee State as a graduate assistant, helping the Bucs advance to the WNIT in 2017-18. She went on to become a graduate assistant at Drury University, working with Head Coach Molly Miller. Assisting in all facets of the program, Swartz helped guide the program to a stellar 35-1 season in 2018-19. 

Swartz played four years of collegiate basketball at Missouri State University of the Missouri Valley Conference under Head Coach Kellie Harper. The former Bears' center played from 2013-17, earning two WNIT berths, a MVC Tournament Championship in 2016 and one NCAA Tournament appearance. Swartz, a member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), graduated from Missouri State in 2016 with a degree in communications before earning her masters from Drury in 2019.

"It was a no-brainer to bring Rachel on board," said Young. "She is a great on-the-court coach and will be a great mentor to our student athletes with her hunger, determination and passion for the game of basketball. Rachel is returning home to the state of Washington with playing experience at the Division I level and coaching experience that spans from every level and position. She will be instrumental in our recruiting efforts with her excellent ability to evaluate talent and her strong ties to the West Coast. I can't wait to begin working with Rachel on creating an elite program at Seattle University."

Luaulu-Summers comes to SU after spending one season at Oregon as the Ducks' director of creativity and student athlete support. Prior to Oregon, Luaulu-Summers spent three seasons at her alma mater, Pacific, working as the team's digital media specialist from 2019-21 and serving as an assistant coach for the 2021-22 season. 

Luaulu-Summers finished her collegiate playing career in 2018 as one of the most prolific scorers in Pacific program history, ranking sixth on the all-time scoring list with 1,322 points. She was a back-to-back All-West Coast Conference First-Team selection in her final two seasons.

After earning her undergraduate degree in sports management from Pacific in 2018, Luaulu-Summers played professionally overseas with the Lakeside Lightning of the Australia-State League, where she led the Lightning to a 16-6 record while averaging 16.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game on 40.7 percent shooting.

"GeAnna brings an infectious personality that is magnetic," said Young. "She has been a tremendous competitor since her playing days and that spirit will help grow and challenge our student athletes on and off the floor. GeAnna brings a plethora of experience in coaching, spanning from the mid-major to Power Five level. She is a great on-court skill development coach who will enhance our student athletes' game in all aspects. She possesses strong recruiting ties to the Bay Area that will be beneficial for us in building an elite program."

Roper has been on staff with Seattle U women's basketball since the summer of 2020, starting as a graduate assistant with the program before being promoted to director of basketball operations in July 2022. A native of Seattle, Roper played four years for UC Santa Barbara and graduated with a bachelors of arts degree in Black Studies. She played professionally overseas in Norway before earning her master's in Sports Business Leadership from Seattle U in 2022.

"Makala brings great continuity and program organizational expertise our staff," Young said. "She is very passionate about the game and deserves this new role to grow as coach, mentor and role model for our student athletes. Her strong ties and connect to the Seattle area will be beneficial in us building an elite program on and off the court at Seattle University."

Stay connected with Seattle U women's basketball and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play