Starting his 32nd year at LHS this fall, Tim Brillo continues to take pride in serving as our Athletic Director. Whether you catch him at the first half of your home games, hear him announcing the end of lunch, or see him patrolling the halls, Brillo’s presence is always felt by the student body.
Growing up in Quincy, a suburb just outside of Boston, Brillo describes it as a chaotic area when he looks back.
“It was fun, I loved it. I grew up pretty fast. My high school was in Boston, so I saw a lot of things that helped me grow up a little bit. It was very diverse—it’s where my family is and I miss it, but I like it out here.”
It came as no surprise when he said he juggled three different sports in high school—football, basketball, and baseball—making him a three-sport athlete for all four years.
After high school, he attended Westfield State College, where he focused on football for the next four years. Brillo credits his football coach, Mr. Marino, as the reason he ended up at Ludlow in the first place.
“I was able to do my student teaching here. He set me up here.”
Not only that, but Mr. Marino is also Mrs. Zianio’s dad—a fun fact Brillo dropped abruptly before launching into more college stories.
Alongside those memories, Brillo reflected on what he might have done if he hadn’t gone into coaching. The story unexpectedly began with a pastime that grew into something bigger during a spring break trip to Cancun.
“I may have been in the t-shirt business—in college, one of my very good friends and I sold t-shirts and did very well. After we graduated, he continued with it. I was with him for a little bit, but now he lives in the eastern part of the state. He’s done very well. It’s called College Hype.”
Yes, College Hype is a legitimate t-shirt company! The website might be a little rough to navigate, but it’s the real deal.
Before starting as an official gym teacher at LHS in 1994, Brillo worked at the original Ludlow Boys and Girls Club, then located by Walgreens in what used to be the old high school.
Even before his full-time teaching position, he was already involved in education as a student teacher.
“I was doing student teaching here. I needed a job. I walked in off the street and Mrs. Rodriguez hired me. I worked there for a couple of years before I got hired here.”
From there, Brillo began moving into administration.
“I was the department head of Phys Ed for a long time. I really enjoyed it, and this was a natural progression. Athletics has been a part of my life forever. I really like the administrative side of it. With athletics, there are a lot of positives because you’re dealing with student athletes. As assistant principal, you’re dealing with more discipline—not a bad thing, just different.”
When asked about his favorite LHS sports team, Brillo admitted some bias. Having coached girls’ basketball for 26 years, they naturally hold a special place in his heart. But he also mentioned soccer, a sport he hadn’t expected to enjoy so much.
“I can be a little biased because I was the girls’ basketball coach for 26 years, so they will always hold kind of a special place for me. I think after that, I really came to appreciate soccer—even though I wasn’t a soccer guy.”
He explained further:
“I wasn’t a soccer person growing up in Quincy. You know, it was football—you played football and everyone else played soccer. Here, it’s reversed, but I’ve really come to appreciate the skill level and the passion they have for it.”
Brillo also recognizes the dedication student athletes put into their sports.
“I appreciate the athletes and the amount of work that goes into it. The dedication—they go every day, they’re here late, they come home late from games. I just really appreciate all the effort they put in, and the same thing with the coaches.”
Pressed again to choose a favorite, Brillo laughed it off:
“Again—I’m biased toward the girls because I coached them so long. But I really appreciate all of our athletes. Maybe track too, because my daughter ran track in college…so I don’t know.”
As for a least favorite team? Brillo didn’t bite.
“I saw the kids today for baseball and thought, ‘that was a really good high school baseball game.’ I really don’t have a least favorite. I think that’s why I got into athletics—because I appreciate all sports. They’re different in every way. Do I play them all? No!”
Brillo also reflected on former students who are now colleagues. He mentioned teachers like Ms. Nascin, Gauthier, Ollquist, Pieres, and Zianio—some of whom he coached in girls’ basketball, others he taught in gym class.
Of the many athletes he’s worked with, Brillo values those who hold themselves accountable.
“It’s the kids who accept responsibility—they’re willing to do things on their own without needing a coach to push them all the time. I watch how they react when things are going well and how they treat teammates and non-teammates—how they act in the cafeteria.”
He recalled one moment in particular: “I’ll never forget Brook Dias, a cross-country runner. At lunch, there was a kid sitting by himself—she was a senior, he was a freshman. She called him over: ‘Come sit with us.’ Those are my favorite moments. You don’t have to be a great athlete. It’s those kinds of things I really value, and I think we have a lot of kids like that, which I’m proud of.”
Brillo’s iconic Boston accent came up too. He shared a story from when he was still subbing. “I think I was subbing for a class and a kid was drawing on the desk. I said, ‘Are you an artist?’ and he had no idea what I was saying. He just looked at me like, ‘What?’”
While the accent has faded over time, students still refer to him as “the one with the Boston accent.”
Brillo also touched on retirement, estimating about three years left before stepping away. Even then, he hopes to stay connected to athletics.
“Well—I think I have three years left. I’d like to hopefully still stay in athletics and work within our conference. There’s a position I would apply for and hopefully get.”
Family will guide his decision, as he and his wife want to remain near their daughters. With both daughters recently finishing grad school, family time is clearly central to his life—whether it’s trips to the Cape, Patriots games, or just watching sports together.
In a previous interview, Brillo named P!nk as his favorite artist. When asked for his favorite song, he answered without hesitation:
“Oh, the latest one—I really like Trustfall. I’m disappointed I missed her concert at Gillette last year. I should have gone.”
He also offered advice to student athletes considering college sports:
“If you’re lucky enough to be a college athlete and you can do it—do it.”
For him, the scores mattered less than the friendships and sense of belonging. He encouraged students to find their “niche,” whether in sports or another passion.
The interview even turned back on me, as Brillo started asking about my future and what niches I might pursue. He emphasized the importance of visiting campuses and trying things outside academics.
“Do something, get involved, branch out—meet new people. Studying is great, but the things you learn in college—doing laundry, cooking, managing your money—those are just as important. If you get the chance to study abroad—take advantage of it.”
Before we wrapped up, Brillo tossed out one last trivia tidbit about Ludlow.
“You know where Wendy’s is? That was my house when I first got hired here. Me and three other guys just out of college lived there. They tore it down, and now it’s a Wendy’s. Nobody knows that!”