Deb Spinelli
Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Impact Statement
“I love to see the kids when it clicks in their mind what I’m trying to do. The only reason I’ve had the success that I’ve had is because the kids have bought into my style of play.” – Deb Spinelli
Biography
The National High School Coaches Association is proud to announce Deb Spinelli of Tourtellotte Memorial High School in Thompson, Connecticut as its National High School Girls’ Soccer Coach of the Year.
In the fall, Coach Spinelli won her 300th match with a 6-0 shutout of Parish Hill. In addition to the results on the field, she is known as a coach that goes above-and-beyond for her student-athletes. In 1995, Spinelli used her coaching stipend to buy Adidas uniforms and warmups.
Spinelli’s 1993 team won Connecticut’s Class S state championship. Her ’99 team was named Class S co-champs. Tourtellotte Memorial has finished runner-up four times under Coach Spinelli.
In the fall of 1999, she took over the duties as the school’s Athletic Director. After 23 years, she still holds this position.
Spinelli is a multi-sport athlete in her own right. She played Basketball, Volleyball and Softball in high school. While at Southern Connecticut State University, she played varsity Basketball, Field hockey and track.
Spinelli is the second Connecticut coach to be named the NHSCA National Girls’ Soccer Coach of the Year. Joe Finocchiaro of Glastonbury High won the honor for the 2016-2017 school year.
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