What they’re saying about David DelFino

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David DelFino, his peers and players’ parents will tell you, “is a young coach on the rise.”

However, Andrea Spaziante – the popular principal at Immaculate Conception Regional Catholic School in Cranston said yesterday, “David DelFino is an incredible coach that not only focuses on game play, but also emphasizes the importance of respect and responsibility,”

Spaziante, who led a huge delegation of IC basketball fans to La Salle Academy where IC captured the coveted Catholic Athletic League State Championship Sunday, also emphasized, “I believe this is what makes them a successful team. Mr. DelFino models effortlessly what he expects from his students.”

DelFino is a life-long Johnston resident who once starred for Bishop Hendricken High’s basketball Hawks and graduated from URI. Spaziante said, “David consistently goes above and beyond for our students, whether he is teaching physical education or health class or his team, ICCRS is lucky have such a dedicated, skilled educator and coach.”

More importantly, as the ICCRS principal added, “This group of eighth grade boys lives our school mission every day on and off the court. They have grown closer as class and teammates this year making this win so well deserved. They are wonderful role models for our school community and will be missed when they graduate.”

Chris Corsinetti, the highly-successful head girls’ basketball coach at Johnston High whose son Anthony was a key contributor in Sunday’s triumph, also spoke as a parent about DelFino.

“Hiring Dave for the seventh and eighth grade basketball coach was the best thing to happen for our boys,” Corsinetti, who led the Lady Panthers to berths in this year’s Interscholastic League State Tournament, began. “He set forth this culture of respect, gratitude, accountability and hard work.”

Corsinetti, who along with his brother owns and operates Hartford Paving and has donated countless hours to help the youth of Johnston, went on to say, “I don’t think any team at this level received better education about the game of basketball but more importantly life’s lessons than our goys did from Dave and his staff of Justin Kolenda and Mark McPhillips.”

The JHS girls coach, who is steeped with years of experience at the high school level, concluded, “My son loved his two years playing for him. He grew so much as a player, student and young man. Davie is such a great role model for his players and students.”

Mike Montecalvo, an award-winning news anchor at WPRI-TV Channel 12 and Fox who is a regular at CAL basketball games, labeled DelFino “a great young coach” as he congratulated the skipper after Sunday’s stat title clinching win. “He brings much more than basketball to his players; he is a cherished asset for IC.”

Perhaps Dan Mazzulla, one of the most storied players and coaches in both Johnston High and Bryant University history who DelFino once worked for in the town’s parks and recreation department, best described the kind of person and coach DelFino has become in a relatively short time.

“David is a great role model with lots of passion and energy that reflects through his players and students,” said Mazzulla, who serves as the head JHS boys’ basketball team. “With David, it’s not so much about the X’s and O’s … it’s about academics, friendships and family.”

The one-time JHS standout, who is a member of the prestigious Bryant University Hall of Fame, went on, “David has educated his students by teaching them the right fundamentals and concepts of the game. I’m sure his practices are well organized because of his great work ethic; he’s a blessing for the kids in that school.”

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