Acciardo wins Coach of Year honor again

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Johnston High football coach Joe Acciardo was recognized among this state’s elite last Wednesday evening during the Providence Gridiron Club’s 21st annual Awards Night at the Quonset ‘O’ Club in North Kingstown.

Acciardo, who has been the Panthers’ head coach for a decade, was honored with his second straight Division II-A Coach of the Year award by the storied Gridiron Club.

One of the things that makes Acciardo’s award so impressive is that opposing coaches determine who wins the prestigious honor in all five Rhode Island Interscholastic League football divisions.

“It’s really nice when your opponents vote for you,” Acciardo told a sell-out crowd upon receiving his award from Gridiron Club President Dick Fossa. “The guys in your league who you coach against vote for you and that says a lot; it says we win with class and dignity and it’s important that our kids see that, too.”

The always-humble Acciardo, who admitted he thought 2013 would be a rebuilding year for the Panthers, added: “I want our team to win with class. I want our team to always be competitive; when the whistle blows at the end we’re gentlemen – win or lose.”

Acciardo also gave credit to his players and his staff.

“The reason I was selected is because of the assistant coaches and our players,” Acciardo said. “Johnston High football is not just a one-man show; we had a lot of first-year varsity players and through hard work and the efforts of my assistant coaches, we put another co-championship banner on the wall.”

Acciardo’s assistants this past year were Tony DeMarco, Steve DeMeo, Bruce Mastracchio, Blaine Waterman, James Bucci and Dylan Bessette.

The Panthers began the 2013 season with a loss then reeled off seven straight victories and wound up in a lock with Woonsocket for the co-crown. Rogers bounced Johnston in the first round of the playoffs.

“In the beginning we were worried that we might not win a game,” Acciardo admitted. “We lost 22 players through graduation and many of our kids would be first-year starters. My assistant coaches did an outstanding job. I’m very proud of this coaching staff and our kids responded to each and every one of the coaches. We knew we’d make mistakes but we all agree we had to keep repeating ourselves.”

Other Coach of the Year honors went to: Keith Croft, Bishop Hendricken-Division I; Shane Lagore, West Warwick, Division II-B; Willie Edwards, Moses Brown, Division III; and Mike Reed, Scituate, Division IV.

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