A high brightness, fiber coupled optical pumping system is described based on readily available optical components. Operating at a wavelength of 670nm we have achieved an output of 1.25W from a 50μm core diameter fiber (0.22 NA) and 3.5W from a 100μm core diameter fiber (0.22 NA). This represents a six- to eightfold increase over commercially available systems at that wavelength. The design is generic and can immediately be implemented at other wavelengths, where high brightness pumping systems are not commercially available. The design and implementation are detailed.