As the first day of football practice got underway last Friday, Everett native Rob DiLoreto feels right at home in charge of the Crimson Tide the second time around

Team begins scrimmage season tomorrow (Aug. 23) against host Catholic Memorial   

By Joe McConnell

Author Thomas Wolfe’s quote certainly doesn’t apply to Rob DiLoreto, because he is coming home again, where it all began.
DiLoreto grew up right here in Everett. He played in its youth sports leagues, went through its school system and coached its sports teams, including being an assistant and head football coach at the high school. He understands the Everett athlete, because he was one himself, and he certainly understands Everett politics, and everything that goes with it.
And so, after being unceremoniously forced out as the EHS football coach two years ago, despite leading the team to two straight playoff appearances, he’s back in charge of the Crimson Tide, because he wants to be here.
His first incarnation as head coach began during the pandemic, where everything was turned upside down. The games were played in the spring, instead of the fall, and there weren’t any playoffs. But everything returned to normal in the fall of 2021, and so did Everett’s participation in the football playoffs, this time under DiLoreto’s watch. He gets do it all over again this year after succeeding his successor, Justin Flores.
While the regular season is still weeks away, DiLoreto, like all of his counterparts throughout the state, returned to the field for the official day of practice last Friday morning, Aug. 15, and by all accounts it went very well.
“The first few practices at Glendale Park have gone pretty well,” said DiLoreto. “Every player is working hard to prepare for the season, and me and my assistant coaches are starting to get a feel for the talent level that’s on this year’s team. And as a result, we are excited about the effort that we are seeing from every player.”
Everett High football coaches over the years have never had issues with the number of players signing up to play, and that trend is continuing for DiLoreto this year. He welcomed 55 upperclassmen and 22 freshmen to practice last Friday.
The practices begin every day at 4 p.m., and they are at Glendale, because the turf at Everett Memorial Stadium is being resurfaced and spruced up for the 2025 campaign.
The team as a whole was ready for the first day of practice after a summer of workouts in the strength and conditioning program that was setup by DiLoreto and his coaches, and they were more than pleased with the results after seeing the players again last week.
“We were impressed with the overall strength and flexibility of every player,” DiLoreto said. “We now need to get them in football shape, and that will continue to develop as we transition to full-padded practices, which will definitely be more physical and more intense.”
The Tide’s first scrimmage is scheduled for tomorrow (Aug. 23) at 2 p.m. against former EHS coach and DiLoreto’s mentor John DiBiaso’s Catholic Memorial squad in West Roxbury. They will then head to Danvers for another scrimmage next Friday (Aug, 29) against St. John’s Prep at 5 p.m., followed by the 2025 home opener at Everett Memorial Stadium against Greater Boston League (GBL) rival Medford on Friday, Sept. 5, at 6 p.m.