Everett High football coach John DiBiaso and school officials, from left, Supt. of Schools Frederick
Foresteire, EHS Principal Erick Naumann, Maureen DiBiaso, EHS Vice Principal Dr. Omar Easy,
Jonathan DiBiaso, School Committee Chairman Allen Panarese, and Assistant Supt. of Schools
Charles Obremski.
John DiBiaso’s coaching record is unmatched in state football history: 20 league championships, 15 Super Bowl appearances, 11 Super Bowl titles, and seven undefeated seasons.
Sunday night the Massachusetts Football Coaches Association presented DiBiaso with their highest honor, induction in to the State Coaches Hall of Fame.
DiBiaso was escorted to the podium by his wife, Maureen and son, Jonathan, former All-Scholastic quarterback and current Dartmouth College student. Daughter Christina DiBiaso was busy preparing for her final exams at Emerson College.
In the audience at Lantana’s in Randolph were current and former assistant coaches, Everett school administrators, including Superintendent of Schools Frederick Foresteire, Everett football supporters, and former Everett players.
One of those former players in attendance, current EHS vice principal Dr. Omar Easy, witnessed DiBiaso’s coaching excellence first hand. It was DiBiaso who set the foundation from which Easy developed in to an All-Scholastic football player, a standout at Penn State University, and an NFL player. There have been so many others, from Diamond Ferri to Gennaro Leo to Ralph Faia to Matt and Frank Nuzzo III, that have been graced so magically by DiBiaso’s sheer brilliance as a football coach and mentor.
It was perhaps fitting that DiBiaso was introduced as the last of the seven inductees in the program. His speech was extraordinary, a rich and diverse blend of personal memories, humorous anecdotes, and tales from the locker room to the football field. It was vintage John DiBiaso as he reflected on his superb coaching career that began at little St. Patrick’s of Watertown, continued at Weston High, and flourishes in his beloved hometown of Everett where he has become a legend. He noted the important influence of his father, the late John DiBiaso, who was a football coach and athletic director.
Interestingly one of DiBiaso’s coaching colleagues, fellow Hall of Fame inductee Jim O’Leary of rival St. John’s Prep, hailed Everett’s football excellence first, lauding the leadership of Superintendent of Schools Frederick Foresteire, who has helped DiBiaso and the Crimson Tide become the gold standard of high school football programs in Massachusetts.
After asking Mr. Foresteire to stand up and be recognized, O’Leary told the large crowd, “There isn’t a more supportive superintendent east of the Mississippi that shows Everett pride more than Mr. Foresteire. We have a great rivalry with Everett. I don’t get off the bus any year and Mr. Foresteire is the first one to greet me. He’s going to talk to me and then go in and give the pre-game speech to the football team. John’s out talking to me and the kids are in there. I never could figure out – Mr. Foresteire’s the guy.”
DiBiaso would later praise Foresteire in his remarks, “What Coach O’Leary said about Mr. Foresteire is exactly true: He’s the best superintendent in the state. I greatly treasure the years I’ve had with him.
He related a funny story about the lofty expectations associated with Everett High football.
“You also have to realize that Mr. Foresteire is very demanding. Coach [Mike] Milo and I went in to his office in 2005. We had won the Super Bowl in 2001, 2002, and 2003. We lost to Coach Stevenson [Xaverian] on the last play of the game. We lost to Coach Colombo [Brockton] in 2004 in the last two minutes of the game. So we lost two games in five years. Mr. Foresteire called us in and said, ‘I’m sick of losing.’’’
DiBiaso recalled his appointment as the Everett High School head football coach.
“In 1991 I got the opportunity of a lifetime. I got the chance to coach at Everett High School. Mr. Foresteire hired myself and my staff. We had a lot of great players at Everett over the years. We had the best fans. I’ve had some great assistants. Coach Mike Milo has been with me through St. Pat’s, Weston, Everett for over 30 years. He’s like a second brother to me.
DiBiaso humbly congratulated the other inductees and award winners and thanked the Coaches Association for granting him induction in to the Hall of Fame.
It was Hall of Fame speech from a Hall of Fame coach.
Aftewards Mike Milo summed up the memorable night. “Coach DiBiaso is just the best. He’s a human being and loves other human beings. That’s the name of the game. All the other stuff’s window dressing.”
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