Marian girls basketball coach Damian Fritz will not return to the program next season.

“We cannot comment on personnel matters. Damian and Kristin informed me of their decision to resign Wednesday,” the school said in a statement Thursday. Damian Fritz was the girls basketball coach, and Kristin served as an assistant coach.

The Fillies are coming off a season that included a runner-up finish in the District 11 Class 2A tournament and a trip to the state quarterfinals, where they fell to eventual champion Berlin Brothersvalley and finished 23-5.

Kristin Fritz, whose father Bob Fulton led the 1971 Marian boys to the PCIAA state championship, also served as the head cross country coach and was slated to become the head track and field coach next season.

In a Facebook post Thursday, Kristin expressed frustration and disappointment about the situation.

“Yesterday, Damian and I were let go as coaches at Marian,” she wrote. “The reason I’m sharing this is that we have been flooded by beautiful phone calls and messages in support of us, and it’s finally time to set the record straight. I am TIRED of our name being trashed and the lies being told.

“Our kids have attended Marian since 2016, and we have donated countless hours and money willingly to support a school that we loved.

“However, things have changed over the years. I don’t blame the school itself. I blame the Diocese of Allentown and the people that have a connection to them and use their relationship for their own personal agenda, which is fueled by hate and jealousy. It’s a shame because our family is going to be just fine, but the kids are devastated. That’s who this affects, and no one seems to care. But don’t worry, a few people can puff out their chests and feel good about themselves.

“Thank you to everyone that has reached out to us — we love all of you! This is just the beginning — it’s not over yet.”

Marian has qualified for the state tournament 32 times in program history — including 22 appearances in the past 30 seasons.

Under Fritz, the Fillies reached the PIAA quarterfinals each of the past two seasons and captured District 11 titles in 2021-22 (Class 1A) and 2022-23 (Class 2A).

It was announced before the 2021-22 campaign that Fritz would take over for legendary head coach Paul Brutto. He brought more than 20 years of coaching experience, including head coaching stints with the Lehighton and Jim Thorpe boys programs. He guided Jim Thorpe to a 17-8 record in 2004-05 and a 12-13 mark in 2005-06, finishing 29-21 with the Olympians.

Before leading the girls program, Fritz spent seven seasons as an assistant with the Marian boys team under then-head coach John Patton.

The Fritz family has long been part of the Marian community. Damian and Kristin have four children, including Tyler, a 2020 Marian graduate and the school’s all-time leading basketball scorer with 1,959 points, and Logan, who also played for the Colts. Their daughters include Ava, a recent Marian graduate, and Addison, a rising senior and Pennsylvania Sports Writers Class 2A All-State Third Team selection last season.

Damian Fritz is a graduate of Tamaqua Area High School, where he scored 802 points from 1990-93.