Eyes flaring, finger pointing, his words loud and direct, Butler Catholic's varsity basketball players sat, listened and learned.

After all, Harry Leyland wasn't yelling — he was coaching.

And the Saints junior high boys went on to post a 51-41 victory Saturday over St. Sebastian, their 23rd win without a loss this season.

Leyland couldn't help but smile when he talked about it, since the win occurred on his 75th birthday and in his 39th season as Butler Catholic boys basketball coach.

"Oooh, this is a talented bunch and they've been playing together for a long time," Leyland said. "These kids are working their butts off. They know what they're capable of accomplishing, I think. That's what drives them."

During his years at Butler Catholic, Leyland has won numerous section championships, a Pittsburgh Diocesan title and took two teams — the 1988-89 and 1998-99 squads — to the Pennsylvania State Catholic School Tournament.

This year's team could be a third. The Saints have already won all five tournaments they've played in and are 4-0 in section play. The top four teams in the section qualify for the diocesan playoffs. The winner of the diocesan playoffs advances to the state tournament.

"This year's team is as talented as the other two,"Leyland said. "I don't know if it has the depth of those past teams, but it has the skill level."

Butler Catholic has 12 players on the varsity roster. Three of them — Bobby Swartwout at 13.2 points per game, John Barkus at 11.4 and Vinny Schmidt at 11.0 — average in double figures.

Swartwout had 18 points and 13 rebounds in Saturday's win while Schmidt added 17 points.

Leyland is trying to take a third team to the state tournament in as many decades. That would only add to a legacy that's also produced 10 Butler Area Midget Football League titles in 50 years.

And Leyland's never been paid a dime for any of it.

"It's all volunteer. He's just a very dedicated, passionate man when it comes to kids,"said Butler Catholic principal Sister John Ann Mulhern. "His crown will have many stars in heaven, all kinds of jewels.

"He barks at the kids, yet they have fun with him. He demands that they do what he says. ... He's old-school, but the kids respond. They know he has their best interests at heart in everything he does.

"Harry has a teddy bear gruffness," she added.

Leyland's daughter, Margie McLaughlin, coaches Butler Catholic's varsity girls basketball team and still receives coaching tips from her father.

"The girls practice and play after the boys all the time and Dad always sticks around to give advice and lend support,"McLaughlin said. "He's an institution here."

He's an institution who continues to relate to youngsters year after year, regardless of the widening difference in generations.

"I can't explain how he does that,"McLaughlin said. "The kids just get him. Maybe it's his sense of humor. ... He's like a cartoon."

Mickey McGrane runs the Pittsburgh Diocesan junior varsity league and has known Leyland for decades. His late father, John McGrane, helped Leyland get Butler Catholicinto the Pittsburgh Diocesan League.

"He's always been a nice person, but he's also always intense on the court,"McGrane said. "What always impressed me is how well he relates to all types of kids.

"You know where you stand with Harry. He doesn't hide anything. Kids don't always like to hear what he's got to say, but they always benefit from it."

McGrane said Butler Catholic teams have the same characteristics year after year.

"They have physical teams, they're prepared to play and they exude sportsmanship," he said. "Harry's teams do a lot of traveling, and no matter what the weather conditions, they're always there. He runs a very committed program."

Now he's coaching a very committed team.

Assistant coach Rob Swartwout has been with the current Butler Catholic squad since it was in fourth grade. As fourth graders and sixth graders, these players were unbeaten.

A few of them saw varsity action as seventh graders last year, when the Saints finished 6-6 and reached the Diocesan playoffs for the first time in a few years.

"We've been taking these kids to tournaments for years and it shows,"Swartwout said. "They play with a lot of savvy and poise. We teach defense and rebounding first. If you can play defense and rebound, you can play with anybody.

"Harry is down here five days a week working with these boys. Since he's retired, he gets here in time to start the boys practice right after school so the girls team can get the gym at a decent hour."

Leyland has had as many as 15 players and as few as five on a team at Butler Catholic.

He's finished runner-up in the state tournament. He's had teams that never won a game.

"I respect every kid who ever played for me,"Leyland said. "I respect the ones who stuck it out on those winless teams even more.

"It's easy to love this game when you're winning."

How much longer will Leyland stay in coaching?

"Who knows?" he said, laughing. "I've been saying this is my last year for about 15 years now."

"He's not giving it up,"McLaughlin said. "Not now, not ever. Coaching is how he stays young."