Pietrantonio puts his name in the hat
By Lorenzo Recupero
Following the departure of its head varsity coach just over a week ago, Everett High School is officially on the hunt to find a new leader for Crimson Tide basketball.
According to EHS Athletic Director Tammy Turner, the application for the open position was posted both internally and externally on Monday, August 28th.
With Crimson Tide basketball set to tip-off its 2023-24 season schedule on December 12th against Malden High School, time is of the essence.
Recognizing EHS’ newfound need and motivated by the importance the role plays in the community, lifelong Everett resident Ross Pietrantonio, who has led Everett youth sports in the past, is stepping up with the hope he will be awarded the opportunity to take the helm of Crimson Tide basketball.
“The state of Everett sports is at a critical moment. These student-athletes deserve the same experience I had in the Everett Public Schools,” said Pietrantonio, a graduate of EHS’ class of 2004 and former football champion, winning titles with the Crimson Tide in 2001, 2002, and 2003. Pietrantonio was most recently an assistant for former EHS football coach Rob DiLoreto who stepped down after last season.
“The student-athletes need structure, routine, and to be held accountable for their choices. They need to understand the definition of commitment, putting others before themselves and ultimately how to manage adversity on and off the court,” said Pietrantonio in an interview with the Leader Herald after he applied for the coaching position. “I’m here to teach, develop, and continue to carry on the winning traditions of Everett sports,” he continued.
A 2009 graduate of Trinity College, where he also played football, Pietrantonio said he has a strategic plan in place — which includes donating all the pay he’d receive for the position back to Everett Public Schools — and is now only waiting for the opportunity to implement it for the betterment of Everett’s youth.
He is not alone in his effort either.
According to Pietrantonio, he is applying for the head basketball position as a dual-slate alongside his longtime friend and coaching partner, Antione Coleman, a WPI graduate, former Marine, and current Director of Veterans Services for the City of Everett.
Coleman played football for the Crimson Tide and graduated from EHS with Pietrantonio in 2004.
The duo led open gym at the Everett Rec. Center on Wednesdays.
“We are going to do everything in our power to put ourselves in a position for a decision to be made,” said Pietrantonio. “Our mindset is, if we get hired, we are taking 100% of our pay and putting it back into the program because head coaching youth sports should always be about the kids,” said Pietrantonio, who is an all-around active member of the community having run for city councilor in Everett during last election season.
Advocating for academics first, Pietrantonio said should he get the position, he would use a portion of the donated salary to hire a tutor for the basketball program.
Should he get the position, Pietrantonio plans to “re-engage” the illustrious Everett alumni community to help bridge the gap between other generations and make everyone a part of the “family first” culture he is hoping to bring to EHS sports.
“I grew up kind of in the golden era [of Everett sports],” said Pietrantonio. “If I were named coach, I’d be at every school, speaking to all students. Our strategy, which we say is as easy as ABCD, is based around four things: accountability, balance, character, and development,” he said.