Coach Sutton on Minds of Many at Providence

Paul Sutton, the boys’ basketball coach and athletic director at Providence High, is battling colon cancer, and many people are showing their concern.

“He has a wonderfully positive attitude, which is part of the very person Paul is,” said Sister Lucille Dean, the Burbank school’s principal. “We consider him central to everything that goes on around here. We’re concerned, but we have great hope.”

Sutton underwent surgery last month, forcing him to miss Providence’s basketball playoff game. He is expected to begin chemotherapy treatments this week.

“I feel a lot better now than the two weeks before I went to the hospital,” Sutton said.

“The whole basketball season I was struggling to find out what was wrong.”

Current and former players have stepped forward to offer support and encouragement to the 39-year-old Sutton, who has been at Providence for 13 years.

Sutton has gone on disability while he undergoes treatment. But he vows to be back coaching the basketball team.

“I’m looking forward to next year,” he said.