Marian Catholic High School proudly announced Friday that District 11 Hall of Fame basketball coach Paul Brutto has been appointed head coach of the boys’ basketball program, succeeding the late Scott Murphy, who passed away unexpectedly on Aug. 14.

Brutto has been a familiar presence on the Colts’ bench for the past three seasons, serving as assistant  coach under Murphy. He played a key role in the Colts’ remarkable 2024-25 season, which culminated ina District 11 Class AA championship and a berth in the PIAA state playoffs.

“We are thrilled Coach Brutto has accepted the position, and we are happy to have him as head coach of our boys’ program,” Marian Athletic Director Billy O’Gurek said. “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 expressed mixed emotions about the appointment, stating: “I’m happy for this opportunity, and while it comes sadly under the circumstances of the loss of Scott, I’m looking forward to continuing whathe started three years ago, which culminated this past year with a District 11 championship.”

Brutto is among the winningest coaches in District 11 and Pennsylvania history, with an illustrious 40-year career in girls’ basketball — 30 years at Marian and 10 at Shenandoah Valley. He amassed aremarkable 750-349 career coaching record (70.8% winning percentage), including 606 wins at Marian Catholic and 144 wins at Shenandoah Valley.

“Going from boys to girls there will be a bit of a learning curve in some respects,” Brutto said. “Having been an assistant with the boys’ (team) the past four years will make the transition more seamless. The bottom line in both cases is it comes down to the same principles for success: hard work, a great attitude and teamwork.”

In October 2024, Brutto was inducted into the District 11 Hall of Fame, recognizing his legacy of excellence.

Among his many accomplishments:

— Led the 2007-08 Fillies to a 32-1 record and the PIAA Class A state championship

— Achieved 27 winning seasons in 30 years at Marian

Guided teams to:

— 15 Schuylkill League division championships

— Three District 11 titles and 11 runner-up finishes

— 22 PIAA State Playoff appearances, with nine trips to the Eastern finals and three Eastern championships

— Career postseason record: 45-21 (68.1%)

Brutto’s teams consistently excelled, winning:

— 15-plus games in 29 seasons

— 20-plus games in 17 seasons

— 30-plus games in three seasons

From 2001 to 2008, his teams compiled an extraordinary 195-32 record, averaging nearly 28 wins per season.

In addition to coaching, Brutto dedicated 40 years to Catholic education. He spent 16 years at Marian Catholic, from 2007 until retiring in 2023. He also served as assistant principal and director of studiesat 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.