Schools

Southeastern Regional Girls Basketball Coach Retires After 31 Years

Longtime Coach James Carini Retires.

The following was subbmitted by Liz Zarrella at the Southeastern Regional High School.

The season has just ended for the girls’ basketball team at Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School, however, more than just another season- it is the end of an era.  This year their devoted coach, James Carini, retires.

It all started 31 years ago when Carini joined Southeastern Regional.  He had always loved basketball, having played in high school and college, and agreed to “temporarily” fill in as coach of the girls’ team before becoming the boys’ permanent coach. 

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While coaching the girls, he soon noticed their keen eagerness to listen and learn the game.  He observed their strong work ethic and that whether they won or lost, they never quit.  He admitted that by the time this “temporary” duty was up, “they had won me over.”  He never did leave to coach the boys and the rest is history.

Since then, the girls’ basketball program has grown to include freshmen, junior-varsity and varsity teams and the team has advanced to the state MIAA tournament 22 out of the past 26 years. 

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Colleges are now looking at athletes in vocational schools as well as comprehensive schools and thanks to the current administration and principal prioritizing sports, what used to be 75-percent boys-25-percent girls ratio for basketball, is now 50-percent-50-percent. 

Carini will be leaving the program having implemented his philosophy of integrating players of all ages onto the team thereby ensuring continuity and experienced future teams.  Recently, in honor of his retirement, almost 50 students from years past gathered to thank him and re-live fond memories.  Among the best compliments to him, perhaps, are that the daughters of former players, with their parents’ encouragement, have also joined the team.

Two years ago upon retiring as athletic director, he elected to stay on for two more years as the girls’ coach.

During that time, James Campbell, the iunior varsity and assistant varsity coach, has been working with him and says, “There will be huge shoes to fill with Mr. Carini retiring”.

Carini always preached to the team, “we are a family”.  He never cut a player and made sure all had uniforms.  His devotion over the years seems to be reciprocated in the outpouring of appreciation by the students and is the best testament of a ‘Job Well Done’!


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