Brad Silimperi will continue coaching, but not the Council Rock South wrestling team.

"Coaching is the most selfish and selfless occupation all at the same time," Silimperi said. "And it's time for me to do a better job coaching with my family. I want to spend the time with my wife, Sheila, who has sacrificed so much for me to be able to chase my dream coaching and with my parents and family.

"It's just the right time for me and my family. A good coach tries to be proactive, not reactive, and that's what I'm trying to do."

Silimperi stepped down recently as head coach of the Golden Hawks after 21 wildly successful seasons as the school's first, and only, wrestling leader since the building opened in the fall of 2002. It didn't take long for him to become synonymous with CR South wrestling.

"Brad is just unique and has done so much for the wrestling program over 21 fantastic years," CR South athletic director Tim Dailey said. "He built the program from the start and the success he had is phenomenal. You just don't see coaches doing it for that long and we're really glad that he did."

A tradition of winning

In his 21 seasons, Silimperi's teams won an astounding 17 Suburban One League titles, six PIAA District One Class 3A dual-meet titles and six PIAA Southeast Regional Class 3A team titles. And, to top it off, his 2005 team captured the PIAA team title.

As far as individuals, he coached nine PIAA champions at CR South, the most recent being Zack Trampe in 2017; 48 PIAA medalists; and sent at least one (usually several) wrestler to Hershey every March.

He also helped start the Escape The Rock tournament that has grown from a dual-meet event in 2005 to what is now one of the top individual tournaments not only statewide, but in the country, every January.

In the pantheon of area wrestling coaches, uttering Silimperi's name in the same breath with the legendary Vic Stanley, who is best known for his time at Council Rock in the 1970s and 1980s, is more than fair.

Take a look: Hawks snare second straight district crown

"The league titles and everything, that was fun and cool, but the best part about being a wrestling coach is the relationships you're able to build," said Silimperi, 52.

"I had the opportunity to work with amazing kids, coaches, parents and administrators and those relationships were tremendous. I can't speak for other sports, but I just think wrestling, and what you get out of it, is just different. I have so many great memories that I'll always cherish."

Who fills his shoes?

Replacing him, obviously, won' be easy.

"Somebody said to me that we'll probably get 30 or more people applying for the job," Dailey said. "And I told them that they're probably right. Brad has set up the next coaching staff for success with everything he's done for the program. And he'll still be in the building (Silimperi teaches in the Social Studies department) and able to help out the next coach and that's a great resource."

While he's stepping away from the day-to-day part of head coaching, Silimperi doesn't expect to just disappear.

"I do hope to be involved behind the scenes somehow," said Silimperi, a three-time PIAA finalist and PIAA champion in 1988 at Nazareth. "But this was just the right time. The team is healthy, the booster club is healthy and they're going to go on doing well.

"I just didn't want to regret missing any more time at home and it was just time to take a step back."

For subscribers: Here's the 2022-23 Bucks/Montco all-star wrestling team

Drew Markol: dmarkol@theintell.com; @dmarkol

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Silimperi retiring after 21 seasons with CR South wrestling