BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. -- Bloomfield Hills Marian girls basketball coach Mary Cicerone walked out of her teams postgame debriefing on Friday night holding a bouquet of flowers and a small, round cake inside a protective plastic container. Typically, it is not usually what she carries around after losing a basketball game, but it was her birthday after all.

Although she was hoping to celebrate her 62nd birthday with a win instead of a 35-29 home loss to rival Farmington Hills Mercy, the cake and flowers were a nice consolation prize. Since she does not like holding onto awards and is not a big fan of extravagance, they were good gifts too. She can eat the cake and be done with it. Flowers only last so long.

Over her 39 seasons of coaching girls varsity basketball exclusively at Bloomfield Hills Marian, Cicerone has accumulated many honors for her longstanding success with the program. Cicerone has likely earned enough individual honors to make a shrine to herself at home.

But if you want to see what Cicerone has done with her awards, you might find yourself digging through the trash.

You know what Ive done with all of those awards? Cicerone asked. For 39 years, what are you going to do with all those things? I dont have them anymore. I trashed them. Gave them to a trophy place in hopes they can use them again.

Cicerone became a coach because she loves the sport and she loves the kids. She doesnt want the spotlight now matter how much people think she deserves it.

That is why when Cicerone decided to retire from coaching and teaching at the conclusion of this season and school year, she did not make a deal about it. She told her players. She told her athletic director. If you asked her about it, she would answer. She just did not want to make a big deal about it.

I dont care (who knows), Cicerone said. My team knows. Thats all that matters to me.

The thing is, Cicerones decision to retire is a big deal.

Bloomfield Hills Marian head coach Mary Cicerone directs her players during Bloomfield Hills Marian's girls basketball game against Royal Oak at Marian High School in Bloomfield Hills Friday, March 8 2019.MLive.com

Cicerone is currently the fourth-winningest girls basketball coach in state history, according to records kept by the Michigan High School Athletic Association. Her career record of 697-228 puts her one win behind former Detroit Martin Luther King coach William Winfield, who retired in 2018. She is three wins away from becoming just the third coach to ever reach 700 victories.

With at least 14 games left this season -- or more, if Marian makes a deep playoff run -- Cicerone will also be the first female coach in state history to win 700 games. Former Detroit Country Day coach Frank Orlando won a state record 797 games from 1981-2019. Current Sandusky coach Al DeMott has 774 wins since he began coaching there in 1979.

Just like her age, Cicerone treats her win total as if it is just another number.

Who cares about that? Cicerone said. Whats 700? What is that going to be? Five hundred wins, 400 wins -- whats the difference? I mean, 700, Ive been here forever. I should have a lot, right? You know, Im not in it for that. Id like for these kids to go out in their senior year -- Ive done this with all of them for a long time and theyre special.

Its not that Cicerone is ungrateful for her honors and recognition. In fact, she still holds on to plenty of great things. You just wont find them on some dusty shelf.

Ive got tons of memories, Cicerone said. I know everybody from that first year. Those are the things you remember.

Cicerone is 6-1 in state championship games, winning her first three appearances. Her first was in 1988 when she coached Jennifer Shasky, the only Miss Basketball winner in school history. That year, Marian beat Flint Powers in convincing fashion, 71-49. She has since coached four other Miss Basketball finalists. Cicerones most recent state championship was in 2015 when Marian beat DeWitt, 51-37, marking the first time she ever won back-to-back state championships.

Its a good thing those six state championship trophies are being taken care of by the school in the trophy case. Give them enough time in Cicerones hands and they might have been dropped off at a local trophy shop.

I know theyre there (in the trophy case), Cicerone said. I dont have to see them. I really dont look at them. Weve got so many (from other sports). How do I pick out mine from all the others?

Cicerone clarified that she did keep many of her plaques for a long time before she got rid of them. However, she kept them in a closet that became too cumbersome to organize.

Some people are just humble enough to realize the excess of success is clutter. In Cicerones case, it is clutter well earned.

Im going to miss it, dont get me wrong, Cicerone said. But Im just ready to pass the torch. Im not going to stay here for frickin ever. Ive already been here forever. The kids are all OK with it. They know theyre going to be in good hands.

After winning just over 75 percent of the 925 games she has coached, Cicerone is preparing to move on with her life.

No hoopla, please.

This is normal, she said. People move on, someone takes over. Thats the way it is.

Originally posted here:
Three wins away from 700, Marian basketball coach Mary Cicerone is retiring after this season - MLive.com