#CFCHSFB (ONT): Lions bench boss Brown stepping down

The St. Mark football team will have a new Head Coach for the first time in 24 years when training camp starts next season.

Paul Brown has been a teacher at St. Mark’s since 1987. He was there for the creation of the football program in 1992 and has been the Head Coach ever since.

This season was Brown’s last as the Head Coach of St. Mark. He is retiring from teaching at the end of this school year. Brown said coaching football made the last 24 years of his career incredible.

“The best part for selfish reasons is that I have 24 years where I have got to know kids outside of the classroom on a very personal level.  I have many good friendships that have been established during my career because of coaching them in football, it truly was a privilege,” said Brown.

This season Brown wanted to go about his business the same way he has for the last quarter of a century, putting the players first and trying to give them the best experience possible to carry with them in life after high school and football.

He only made one concession to mark his last year on the sidelines. The Lions have a tradition that Brown started where the players sing a song and run a lap around the track the day before a game. This year Brown joined his players on the lap before every game.

Even though Brown won’t be directly involved with football next year, the game will never be far from his mind. The relationships he built over is career won’t be going anywhere.

“I see the guys all over. In 24 years with 40 guys on a team, that a lot of guys,” said Brown. “It’s not uncommon to run into St. Mark guys all around. It’s like a high school friend you don’t skip a beat when you see them.”

Nick Russo is one of those St. Mark’s guys. He is a grade 12 student who has played for Brown for the last four years. He will carry the lessons that he learned from his coach for the rest of his life.

“One of his famous sayings on the field is ‘Be a thumb guy, not a finger guy’ and I’ve applied this both on and off of the field. What this means is be a man of action, don’t rely on others to do something, step up and take leadership and lead by action,” said Russo.

Over his time with St. Mark’s Brown has made a lot of special memories. There will be a few that standout for him though.

“In our second year in AA after not winning a game all first year we tied a game against my old high school Brookfield. We had a big party after game, my mom was in the house and we had cake and hot dogs and brought the whole team down,” said Brown.

Another game that Brown will never forget was the Lions first city championship in 2001. Their Quarterback Craig Sanderson threw for five touchdowns in the rain.

His players like Russo will cherish the memories that they made during his playing career with St. Mark’s under Brown. Russo’s favourite came last year when St. Mark’s beat St. Joes in the NCSSAA A/AA final.

Nick said that all throughout his high school career Mr. Brown talked about doing the “Vista Chant”. This was a chant that would only be revealed to the team whenever they won the city championships.

“Mr. Brown was so happy doing the Vista and yelling whatever he was yelling that we all got excited and looked at each other and exploded with laughter. We all still don’t know what exactly the Vista Chant was, or what was even said, but the emotion we all had at that moment and the looks on our faces when he started was priceless,” said Nick.

The NCSSAA will be missing a great coach and educator of young men without Paul Brown on the St. Mark’s sidelines next season. After 24 years of dedicated service though it’s high time for Brown to take some time for himself and enjoy his retirement.