Excellence …

When looking up the definition of the word - the quality of being outstanding or extremely good - it seems like a tough word to live up to.

However, for over 30 years at Marian Catholic, head girls basketball coach Paul Brutto and the Fillies’ program has set the standard for excellence.

Brutto announced on Tuesday evening that he will step down as head coach – a post he’s held for the last 40 years between Marian and Shenandoah Valley.

“To be honest, I didn’t expect to make this decision, but it just hit me over the last few weeks,” said Brutto. “There was a bunch of factors involved. I just think right now is the right time.

“I just didn’t have that same excited feeling that I usually get during the summer, and I didn’t have that same passionate motivation that I’ve always felt. I think that’s when you know it’s time to step back and maybe try some other things.”

Brutto - who coached CYO before his head coaching stints at Shenandoah and Marian - has spent the last 46 years in gymnasiums all across the region. It was a decision he did not make hastily.

“This was not an easy decision to make by any means,” said Brutto. “It’s hard to move on from something that has been such a big part of your life and that you love. But like I said, it just felt like the right time. I just feel fortunate to be able to have been at a school like Marian for the past 30-plus years.

“Honestly, what is not to like about a place like Marian? The caliber of people and athletes I’ve worked with over the years have just been great. Great people, great assistants, scorekeepers; everybody had a hand in helping the program thrive. I just want to thank Jack Malarkey for giving me my shot, and also Stan Dakosty for all his support over the years as well as the administrators.”

Brutto is leaving behind a winning legacy that will certainly be difficult to duplicate. Brutto’s teams at Marian collected over 600 wins, several District 11 and Schuylkill League titles and a state championship in 2008. In total, Brutto has accumulated 750 wins.

“2008, I’ll certainly never forget that year,” said Brutto. “To me, that’s the biggest mark that I’m leaving here on the program; to bring home a state championship to Marian was always our biggest goal.

“We were 0-3 (in state title games) at the point, and we were getting a little bit of a Buffalo Bills vibe there. But we had talented kids that really played great basketball for us that season. (We finished) 32-1 with size and dynamic athletes; it was just a great team. You need to be good, and you need to be lucky, and fortunately for us that year, we had a little bit of both.”

Although his head coaching career is over at Marian, Brutto will continue to teach social studies and history at the school.