Everett High School head football coach Rob DiLoreto will lead his team into the season opener against Arlington High School Friday (6 p.m.) holding strong emotional ties to both schools.
DiLoreto worked at Arlington High School from 1996 to 2025 before leaving to become the vice principal at Everett High School at the start of the 2025-26 academic year. He held positions in Arlington as a teacher, athletic director, and dean of students. He also coached football and lacrosse during his 29-year tenure at AHS.
“I don’t want to say bittersweet, but it will definitely be an emotional game for me,” said DiLoreto Monday. “I have wonderful memories of my time working in Arlington. I will always have a special place in my heart for the community, but I also know that I have a job to do in Everett, my hometown, and I’m honored and excited to be here, and there’s no place I’d rather be.”
When DiLoreto coached Arlington High football, it was a member of the Greater Boston League. Arlington left the GBL in 2007 to join the Dual County in 2007. Arlington later moved to the Middlesex League, its current home.
DiLoreto had a special relationship with Arlington High hockey coach Ed Burns, who coached the Spy Ponders for 50 seasons and won eight state and Eastern Mass. titles and 28 GBL championships.
“Mr. Burns was a legend and he mentored me,” recalled DiLoreto. “When I took over as athletic director, we became good friends, and he taught me a lot about the history of Arlington. He’s the greatest high school hockey coach in the history of Massachusetts hockey. In 50 years, he never had a losing season which is amazing. I have a lot of respect for the entire school system in Arlington and the town.”
DiLoreto will put his past allegiances aside as Everett begins the 2026 season at home against a very good Arlington football team that went 7-4 and qualified for the MIAA playoffs last season.
“Arlington is a good program,” said DiLoreto. “Jonathan Nascimento, who is an Everett guy and played here, is a great guy, and this is his first year as head coach, and there’s a lot of excitement.”
Freshman Michael Walsh
will start at quarterback
Everett’s offense will be piloted by a ninth grader, Michael Walsh.
“He’s earned the job and we’re very proud of the work he’s put in,” said DiLoreto. “I believe he’s only the second freshman to start a season at quarterback. I know that Matt Nuzzo also started as a freshman and Jake Willcox played a game or two as a freshman.”
Interestingly, Walsh’s grandfather was an Everett High football captain in the 1960s.
Other Starters On Offense
Last year’s quarterback, Tyler Freni, will move to the starting tailback position. Steven Thomas will start at the H-back position. Freni and Thomas are also team captains.
Senior captain Jamauri Dulin and Jeremiah Joseph, junior Roshon Belony, and sophomore Jerol Zamor will be part of the receivers corps. Zamor is the younger brother of former Everett High standouts Ish Zamor (who is a wide receiver at The Citadel pursuing his graduate degree) and Christian Zamor (who is a junior linebacker at Bentley University).
The Everett offensive line includes left tackle Kellyson Linhares, left guard Guerlins Christalin, senior captain and center Omarian Ayala, right guard Moises Interiano, and right tackle James DeSouza. Senior captain Armani Negron will be the starting tight end and also have a major role in the Everett defense. Freni and Thomas will start on defense at linebacker positions. Senior Kamari Washum will start on the defensive line.
Jakari Jules and Godson Delisme will be key contributors at cornerback.
Two tuneups for the opener
Everett had two pre-season scrimmages at Catholic Memorial and Peabody.
“We played well, so I feel like our team is ready for a Week 1 game,” said DiLoreto. “The kids are really excited. We had a very positive practice Monday, and the team can’t wait to play Friday night [at Everett Veterans Memorial Stadium] before a large home crowd against an old GBL team, renewing a rivalry. It should be a good night for high school football.”
The coaching staff
DiLoreto will be joined on the Everett sidelines by assistant coaches Duane Sigsbury, Claudy St. Juste. Eric Browne, Malik Love, Robbie Riobe, Jason Portillo, Gerell Boyce, Peter Forte, Joe LaMonica Jay Holt, Lukas Denis, Anthony Nazzaro, and Dylan Cyprien.
Connors coaching at
Revere High
Former Everett High standout Dan Connors, who was a standout lineman on Everett High Super Bowl championship teams and later starred at Springfield College, is an assistant football coach and defensive coordinator for Revere High School.
Lou Cicatelli is beginning his 25th and final season as the Revere head football coach, having announced that he will retire at the end of the season.
