East Lyme High School girls' basketball coach Sal Fiorillo, in his fourth season, resigned earlier this week to focus on his health and family, school athletic director Steve Hargis confirmed Friday.

P.J. Zipser will take over the head coaching duties in Fiorillo's absence, Hargis said, beginning with Friday night's game against Fitch.

Fiorillo, the 1986 East Lyme graduate with a passionate sideline demeanor, was formerly assistant girls' basketball coach at Morgan under head coach Joe Grippo for nine seasons and was the head coach of the Morgan softball team. He captained the football and basketball teams as a player at East Lyme.

"I bleed the maroon and white," Fiorillo said when he was hired to coach back at his alma mater in May, 2016. "I'm so ecstatic that I'm back there. It's tremendous. It made my whole family happy, including me more."

The Vikings were 15-10 last year and reached the Class L quarterfinals the last two seasons.

Fiorillo, who resides in Clinton, teaches physical education at Bailey Middle School in West Haven.

v.fulkerson@theday.com