‘Do your job.’ Columbus coach beating cancer has a message for his players - and all men
Do your job.
That’s been the mantra Phil Marino has poured into his team as Columbus High School’s head football coach for 15 seasons.
Marino had embodied the motto by showing up for every class and practice and game and giving his best as a physical education teacher and coach.
But last year, when fatigue from his radiation treatments for prostate cancer proved too much, and his caregivers told him it was time to take care of himself, well, doing his job then meant finally taking a break from his job.
So, reluctantly, he missed the first three practices of his 40-year career to get the rest he needed.
His absence — and his comeback — exemplified life lessons of responsibility and perseverance Marino insists his players learn.
“That shows we have a coach who’s willing to fight for us,” senior defensive lineman Joseph Baker told the Ledger-Enquirer. “So we have to fight for him.”
Cancer diagnosis
According to the American Cancer Society, an average of one in every eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Early detection is key. According to Cancer.net, the five-year survival rate for localized or regionalized prostate cancer is nearly 100%. But when the cancer spreads to another part of the body, the five-year survival rate is 32%.
Marino, 63, routinely got annual physical exams. Six years ago, he underwent his first prostate check. He didn’t have any family history of cancer or alarming symptoms, other than frequent urination, but he thought that was from drinking a lot of water. Still, he was in the recommended age range for the screening: at least age 50 with average risk and expected to live at least 10 more years.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein made by cells in the prostate gland. PSA is mostly found in semen, but a small amount also is found in blood, according to the American Cancer Society.
Marino’s initial exam showed an enlarged prostate and a 4 for his PSA number. Men with a PSA level between 4 and 10 have about a 25% chance of having prostate cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.
From 2018-21, Marino’s PSA numbers ranged between 2 and 3. Then, in June 2022, his number had soared to 6.9. A week later, it was 7.8 — and his prostate was enlarged and hard.
A biopsy a month later took about 15 samples. Eight of them were cancerous, including several assessed as aggressive.
“That was really pretty alarming,” Marino told the Ledger-Enquirer. “… I’m in a panic a little bit. I wasn’t expecting this.”
Marino’s cancer was rated at a high stage 2 on the 4-point scale.
“It was a little concerning,” he said, “but it had not spread.”
Marino told his team about his diagnosis in early August 2022, when the school year started.
“I told them it’s nothing serious now,” he said. “It could be, but as of right now, everything’s good. It’s something that’s been caught, but I’ll be having radiation treatments, and there’s a chance they could wear me down a little bit, so I might not be at practice. But you persevere and move on, and we’ve got a great staff here who will help.”
During practice that day, some players approached Marino and told him, “Coach, I’m praying for you. Can we do anything for you?”
Marino nodded at the memory and said, “That was an incredible feeling, just to hear that from the kids. But to be honest with you, knowing these kids, it didn’t surprise me.”
Cancer treatment
Marino’s oncologist recommended radiation.
He started his 42 radiation treatments later that month, just as football season started, five treatments per week.
Each morning of a treatment day, Jody, his wife for 41 years and a retired teacher, left him a note, marking how many sessions he’s been through and how many were left.
Fortunately, he had his planning time at school during first period, so the procedure didn’t take him away from teaching or coaching — but the fatigue did for a few days, forcing him to miss three practices last season.
“It got taxing at times,” he said. “It was really kind of tough. I’d just get wore out.”
When he finally rang the bell at the John B. Amos Cancer Center after his last treatment, Marino thought, “I hope we got this. It was very emotional for my wife.”
As he recalled that moment, Marino choked up as well.
“They all clapped for you,” he said.
Doing his job
Marino couldn’t remember ever missing a practice in his career, so he struggled with admitting it was best to sit some of them out.
“I felt like I wasn’t doing my job, that I’m supposed to be here,” he said. “What if something goes wrong? Why wasn’t Coach Marino there? … That was probably the hardest part of this whole thing.”
But he recalled one of his doctors told him, “It’s time to think about you now. This is about you and your family.”
Marino has four children and 10 grandchildren.
He appreciates his assistant coaches for picking up his slack.
“I have a tremendous staff that I work with,” he said. “… They were very supportive right off the bat.”
Robert Peters, the team’s offensive coordinator, has been on Marino’s staff for 14 seasons. He describes him as focused, strong work ethic and resilient.
“It’s not just so much from his cancer battle but also with just being here,” Peters told the Ledger-Enquirer. “We’ve had some really rough years here (43-105 under Marino), but he’s just been persistent in always trying to help the kids.”
Marino also appreciates the support he has received from the school’s students, faculty, staff and administration.
“This is a wonderful place to teach,” he said.
Marino has worked in public schools long enough to retire with full benefits in the state system, but he continues to teach and coach because it’s still a joy.
“I like the challenge,” he said. “… The kids keep me young. … I’m having fun. I love what I do.”
Coaching priority
So when he thinks about the 59 players on his roster (35 in uniform for games), sure he wants to win as much as anybody, but he has a different priority.
He asks himself, “Am I giving these kids advice for the future? Is there something they’re going to remember that I said? … The football part of it, if we win, great. We’re going to coach our butts off every year. But if we don’t win, there are other moments with these kids that I treasure.”
Such as seeing his players embrace the notion that education achievement is more important than football success.
Such as seeing his players seek and get help when they need it.
Such as seeing his players speak and act like gentlemen, especially with females.
“Wearing your shirt above your belly or putting markings on your face doesn’t make you a better football player,” he said. “It’s the work you put in every day out there and the things we try to do as a team. … Being a good-character person is probably the most important thing. So when they do wrong, they’ll hear about it from me.”
Baker called Marino a great coach and a great mentor.
“There are days he disciplines you, but it’s because he wants you to be better,” Baker said. “…When you’re leaving stuff on the floor in the locker room or cursing at your teammates or just not doing your assignment, he sounds pretty angry at you. But give him a couple minutes, and he’ll come back and talk to you.”
Baker laughed and added, “He’ll never cuss at us, unless we’re down like 30 at halftime, but he’ll say stuff like, ‘You know better than that’ or ‘I expect better from you’ or ‘Everybody’s watching you.’”
Peters marveled at Marino’s dedication to the team while going through cancer treatments.
“The magic of Coach Marino isn’t so much being committed to winning a state title,” Peters said. “We all want to do that. But he’s committed to making these boys better men, making our school a better school. … He’s taught us all personal strength. The fact that he was able to carry his burden, plus the team, and still come out ahead, it’s a wonderful thing.”
Marino thinks handling his cancer journey with grace and grit — and an attitude of gratitude — personifies what he wants from his players.
“They see me coming to work every day, still working,” he said. “… They’re resilient too. They feel like they can push themselves.”
This season, now that the cancer treatment is behind him, Marino feels like he brings his same high level of intensity to coaching, but he appreciates it more.
“I just feel blessed that I can still go out there,” he said. “… I want to show (his team), even though I had this, I’m still just as strong. I’m still going to persevere. I’m going to work hard, and you’re going to work hard.”
Positive outlook
Three months after his last radiation treatment, Marino’s PSA was down to 1.9.
Three months after that, his PSA was down to 0.8.
“They’re thrilled,” he said. “Those radiation treatments must have hit right where they needed to be.”
His next PSA test will be Oct. 31.
“I have to stay in the zero area for five years for them to say the cancer will not come back,” he said. “. . . But I’m on the right track.”
Marino’s message to any man who will listen: Get an annual prostate check when you should.
“If you’re over the age of 50,” he said, “you need to be doing that — period. … And now, because I have this, they (his sons) need to start screening for it at 40.”
Free prostate cancer screening
Piedmont Columbus Regional’s John B. Amos Cancer Center, 1831 Fifth Ave., will host free prostate cancer screenings Sept. 16, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., for men ages 40-69. No registration in advance is required.
The Urology Center of Columbus, the West Central Georgia Cancer Coalition and Centricity Research are partners with Piedmont in providing this service.
For more information about the screenings, or to join a free prostate cancer support group, call 706-320-8618.
This story was originally published September 14, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
