HS Basketball: Marian hires Brutto as next boys’ basketball coach

Former Shenandoah Valley and Marian girls' basketball coach Paul Brutto, left, is presented his District 11 Hall of Fame plaque by his daughter, Pamela, during the Oct. 20, 2024, induction banquet at The Delta Hotel in Fogelsville (Photo by Leroy Boyer).

HOMETOWN — Marian Catholic’s new boys’ basketball coach is someone who’s already experienced a ton of success at the Hometown school.

Marian athletic director Billy O’Gurek announced Friday morning that the school has appointed Paul Brutto as the next head coach of the boys’ basketball program.

A former long-time girls’ basketball coach at the Catholic school, Brutto succeeds the late Scott Murphy, who passed away unexpectedly Aug. 14.

“We are thrilled Coach Brutto has accepted the position, and we are happy to have him as head coach of our boys’ program,” O’Gurek said in a statement. “We have no doubt he will continue to bring success to the program, just as he did over more than 30 years as coach of our Fillies.”

Brutto, who was inducted into the District 11 Hall of Fame last October, has been a familiar presence on the Colts’ bench for the past three seasons, serving as an assistant under Murphy. He played a key role in the Colts’ postseason run a year ago, when Marian captured the District 11 Class AA championship and participated in the PIAA state playoffs.

“I’m happy for this opportunity,” Brutto said. “While it comes sadly under the circumstances of the loss of Scott, I’m looking forward to continuing what he started three years ago, which culminated this past year with a District 11 championship.”

Brutto is among the winningest coaches in Pennsylvania girls’ basketball history, compiling a 750-349 record in 40 years at the helm — 10 years at Shenandoah Valley and 30 years at Marian. Of those 750 wins, 606 came at Marian. His 2007-08 squad went 32-1 and won the 2008 PIAA Class A state championship.

In his 30 years at Marian, Brutto compiled 27 winning seasons, 15 Schuylkill League division championships, three District 11 titles, 11 District 11 runner-up finishes and 22 PIAA playoff appearances. He guided the Fillies to the Eastern final nine times and the state championship game three times, amassing a 45-21 postseason record.

From 2001-08, his teams compiled an extraordinary 195-32 record, averaging nearly 28 wins per season.

Brutto was involved in Catholic education for 40 years, teaching at Marian from 2007 until retiring in 2023. He had previously served as assistant principal and director of studies at the former Cardinal Brennan High School for seven years and taught at Mahanoy City Catholic School for 17 years.

Brutto is married to Vicki (Martin) Brutto, a 1976 Marian Catholic alumna. Their two children, P.J. (Class of 2003) and Pam (Class of 2007), are also graduates of the school.