EVERETT – The Crimson Cafe was packed with dignitaries, and the Everett Marching Band was playing the school fight song as the guest of honor walked to the podium.

Rob DiLoreto was back home.

DiLoreto returned for a second tour of duty as the school’s head football coach. Pumping his fist several times to a crowd which gave him a standing ovation, DiLoreto was glowing as he talked about the future of Everett football.

“I’m just so filled with emotion, humility and pride. There is no place like home and I can’t wait to get started,” said DiLoreto, who played football and baseball at Everett. “My passion for coaching is why I am here. I am going to give the school my very best effort from this time forward and I will be a positive role model for the student athletes of Everett High School.

“I look in the crowd and I see Jason Maitre who I first met back in 2016. He got a degree from Boston College and he is pursuing his dreams of playing in the NFL and that’s awesome. That’s what I want for the kids of Everett, not just to be NFL players even though we have several in the league right now, but we want them to be good citizens, be happy, healthy and independent.”

Maitre said DiLoreto made an immediate impact on him in the short time that he was around.

“My memory of Robbie wasn’t so much about football as much as the bond he created,” said Maitre, who recently signed a futures contract with the Miami Dolphins. “In high school football, you got to get these guys to believe in you, you got to be leader and be able to push them. Robbie embodies all those things and I can’t wait to see him get started.”

DiLoreto was the head coach at Everett from 2020-2022 where his teams posted a 21-3 record and 17 of his players went on to play in college. While he had plenty of success on the field, outside interference was making it more and more difficult to do his job which resulted in DiLoreto resigning following the 2022 campaign.

Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria was thrilled DiLoreto decided to return.

“Robbie is a consummate pro, a family guy. He loves Everett and loves the kids,” DeMaria said. “Like I said before, it was an unfortunate time when he left, but I am just glad to see him back to lead these young men. It’s not just about football, but it’s about making them good young men.”

It’s the way the first time ended which gave DiLoreto more juice to come back to Everett. If there was any bitterness, good luck finding it Friday as the smile never left DiLoreto’s face.

“I feel like I have some unfinished business here,” DiLoreto said. “I am going to channel all my energy into doing what’s right for the kids. This has always been my dream job. I didn’t have it for while for a while, but I am glad to have a second chance to be at the only place I want to be.”