For the past 30 years, Mark Britton has answered his true calling with tremendous aplomb and undeniable success.

Apart from being a devoted father and husband, the seasoned coach has poured himself into a job that’s bestowed too many blessings to count upon his remarkable career.

Building long-lasting relationships, making noticeable differences and winning football games have all been staples of Britton’s storied tenure at his alma mater.

All good things must eventually come to an end, however, and the Black and Gold legend took that first step toward life after football on Friday when he announced the 2017 season — his 17th atop Cullman’s program — would be the last update to his prestigious coaching résumé.

“It’s something I’ve been thinking about the past couple of years,” Britton said. “It seems like the best time to make the move. I’ve got 30 years in the business, and this has been a tremendous job that I have the utmost respect for. I’ll be 100 percent behind whoever takes over in the future.

“But I’m immensely satisfied. I’m not leaving mad or for health reasons, so that’s a good thing. I’m going out on my own terms. It’s been a super run, but I’d rather get out while you’re still being successful. I’d rather leave five years too early than one year too late. I have truly been blessed.”

Britton graduated in 1980 and continued his education first at Marion Military Institute and then at the University of Alabama, where he majored in business/finance prior to switching to education/coaching his junior year.

He returned to Cullman County in 1988 and took over the Black and Gold’s baseball program, where he proceeded to notch 199 wins in 10 years before ceding the successful reins to Bryan Bowen. He was also a football assistant under head coaches Dale Cook and Mike Bates.

Britton then accepted the head football coach position at Fairview, spending three above-average seasons with the Aggies — he won 17 games and nabbed two playoff appearances — before taking over his current role at Cullman.

Since 2001, the Bearcats have nabbed three region titles and 14 postseason berths under Britton — they have yet to have a losing campaign — and reached the state semifinals in Class 5A during the 2007-08 seasons, where his teams corralled 13-1 and 11-3 records, respectively. Britton has also made it to the second round six times and the third round twice since patrolling the sideline at Oliver Woodard Stadium en route to a 133-62 overall record.

Former Cullman standouts like Justin Britt, Wesley Britt, Spencer Region, Zac Tubbs, Tyler Caldwell, John Nyquist, Justin Patterson, Owen Lovell, Trey Moon, Drew Forrest, Michael Timmons, Charlie Sanford, Ben Moore, Andrew Winfrey, Gavin Ellis and Jonathan Mason — among so many others — have all played key roles in Britton’s tenure and title as the program’s winningest coach.

Go ahead and lump in Matt Hopper, Jonathan Romine, Donnie Parker, Jeremy Peek, Ty Campbell, Kyle Morris and Mark Stephens — all current assistant coaches who’ve suited up for Britton in previous seasons.

“It’s just been a blessing,” he said. “Not only have I been blessed with great players, but I’ve also been blessed with great kids with great character. Tough kids who battle. You know, I’ve been at Cullman for 17 years, and that comes with tremendous support from the administration and community as well. I’ve also had a great staff that’s been here with me for a long time. Not having that daily interaction with the kids and the coaches is something I know I’m truly going to miss down the road.”

But Britton’s current road hasn’t come to a dead end just yet.

He picked up his 150th career win on Friday night following a 20-16 victory against Fort Payne and thinks his team is “full of scrappers and blue-collar workers” as it prepares for the back half of the season.

And though Britton is flooded with emotional memories — his two sons Patrick and Matthew were ball boys prior to playing for their father, while his daughter Meaghan served as an athletic trainer — the grizzled veteran won’t think about his Kentucky cabin and 45-acre farm until he walks off the field one last time.

“You get so caught up in what you’re doing that I’m not really concerned with what’s going to happen when all this comes to an end,” Britton said. “Maybe that sounds crazy, and maybe that’s a question for a year from now. Right now, though, we’re looking at film on Fayette County. Friday nights in Cullman … that’s an event. That’s really just what you grow up with in a big small town.

“But I want the guys to be happy for me, because I’m happy for me. It’s just my time. I think next year it’s going to really be unusual to watch a Cullman football game that I’m not coaching in. But it might be fun to do that with my wife (Patti). Who knows? It’s certainly been a family affair over the past 30 years, and I’ve been blessed to share.”