Legendary Arinella goes out with a splash
Coached 48 years at East Boston, leaves giant legacy
BOSTON >> Former East Boston headmaster John Poto doesn’t remember much about his initial impression of longtime swimming head coach Dave Arinella when he hired him in 1976, other than just feeling he was the right guy for the job.
About a half-century later, “right” almost doesn’t properly cover it.
The longest tenure in Boston Public Schools coaching history came to a notable close Tuesday night at Paris Street Pool, with Arinella’s Jets beating Arlington Catholic, 49-44, in the final meet of his 48-year coaching career.
The banner with his name on it on the back wall was updated to read 295 career wins, marking a fitting end to a memorable day and career. Twice Arinella had to tell the crowd to lower the volume so swimmers could hear their cues — a testament to just how many showed up to honor the coach and program.
“It’s been a long time and I’ve had a ball,” Arinella said. “It warms the heart (to see so many come out). I kept it all together until such time that I saw my grandson, then I lost it. … To be able to coach for 48 years, who does that? Who does anything for 48 years? I’m thrilled.”
The meet started off like any other senior meet, but quickly transformed into a ceremony for a fixture that’s meant so much to the Boston community.
Poto, current East Boston headmaster Phillip Brangiforte, East Boston athletic director Mike Smith, BPS senior director of athletics Avery Esdaile, and Massachusetts state representative Adrian Madaro each gave small speeches and presented a few gifts in front a packed room. Forty-one former Jets swimming captains came to pay their respects, further emphasizing how much the program and Arinella meant to them.
“I’m honored and humbled to be in the company of this guy because he does it the right way,” Smith said in his speech. “He cares about the character of the kids, and we need more of that.”
“People gravitate toward the man,” Poto later added. “He is such a good coach, such a dedicated person, and the kids love him. … Swimming wasn’t a very popular sport, even back then. But he made it very popular at the high school.”
When asked of his greatest coaching accomplishment, Arinella brought up 2021 graduate Ramy Laribi, as far as actual winning goes, for qualifying for the state championship meet.
Much of what coaching was about for Arinella was less about winning and more teaching, though. Current senior Delia Burke McCrary didn’t swim her freshman year in the COVID season and came back sophomore year a little rusty. She was thankful for Arinella’s style.
“I’ve been swimming since I was probably about 7 or 8 years old and he’s been one of the best coaches I think I’ve ever had in my whole entire career of swimming,” she said. “He just saw the potential in me and he just kept telling me that I could do it, I could do it, I could do it. Now here I am, swimming times that I didn’t think I’d be able to swim my sophomore year. He’s just been a really big help with boosting your confidence.”
“He’s amazing,” Laribi added. “He’s changed a lot of lives, inspired people. Everybody likes him, everybody knows him. … He’s a legend in East Boston.”
A central theme in conversation with Arinella after the meet was appreciation for his tenure, crediting athletes and those who helped him show how competitive and great the sport is. He points to the word “humility” on his shirt as a primary philosophy in his coaching, which stood out further while mentioning assistant John Hall’s impact alongside him.
A couple of the speeches before the meet began included that Arinella said many times that it would be his last year before coming back. His affection toward his players shows why.
“Forty-one captains came back here today,” he said. “That’s the thrill of my life. … (And the win), that’s frosting.”
Thankfully, for one final time, they were able to show that affection back.