Longtime RB High coach earns honor

Early in the season, when Rancho Bernardo High boys and girls tennis coach Mike Parrinello went to call in a score, he was not expecting a congratulations. But what he received was that and much more.

Parrinello, a retired Spanish teacher, was named the California Coaches Association Coach of the Year. He was honored to receive such a prestigious award, describing the whole experience as “surreal.”

Parrinello was not only recognized for the amount of time he has dedicated to the program, but also for the passion he displays for his student athletes. He has been with Rancho Bernardo since its opening in 1990. He began his coaching career at the junior varsity level before becoming the varsity coach in 1995.

Parrinello has been recognized as the CIF San Diego Section Coach of the Year three times. He was also recently honored by Rancho Bernardo with a “Special Service Award” for his 25 years of coaching at the school.

Parrinello has tallied up an astounding record of 361 wins to just 88 losses in his time. The Broncos, who have made it to the section finals nine times and quarterfinals twice, have won section championships three times under the dedicated coach.

Parrinello attributes his coaching success to the value he has set on teaching his students more than athletics, but life lessons as well.

“Player development is the most important to me,” he said. “To help them go through their high school years and develop, not only as a player, but as a person. I want to help them become better as a whole. I want the whole kid.”

In developing his athletes, there is a strong emphasis Parrinello puts on teamwork, especially as a coach of such an individual sport as tennis.

“An athlete may be done playing tennis after their four years of high school, so I want to teach them while they are here how to be part of a team, work with other people and communicate,” he said.

He stresses the importance of his athletes building relationships with each other, encouraging them in working towards a common goal.

“To me, seeing the players open up with their team and being able to see who they are as a person is one of the best parts of being a coach,” Parrinello said.

One of Parrinello’s goals as a coach is to close the gap between varsity and JV, creating a close-knit team.

“I want these kids to feel like a family and know that their team has their backs,” he explains. “We win as a team and we lose as a team.”

Parrinello also stresses the importance of academics in his coaching style.

“Academics go hand-in-hand, that’s what’s most important,” he said.

His coaching philosophy revolves around “student athlete,” stressing “student” first and the importance of academics in developing a student’s future.

“Everything is a balance,” he said. “To do well at both it takes work, commitment and management of time. Academics is one thing, sports and athletics are another. That what makes the balance perfect.”

When Parrinello is not on the court coaching boys and girls tennis, he can be found surfing or playing a round of golf. Although it may sound like “the life,” he often misses working with his students as a teacher as well.

“For me, my fun is being with the kids,” he said. “That’s what is fun, that’s what keeps me young and hopefully that shows in my teaching and coaching.”

Lohr is a freelance writer