Millennial Coach Leads Football Team with New Energy

Mike Marino is one of the youngest, if not the youngest head coach in the AIA. But at the age of 25, he comes to Arete Prep with a wealth of experience as an athlete. “It shows them that you can be young and go after what you want,” Marino said. “I just played college ball three years ago, so I know what it takes to get recruited. Letting these kids know if they want to get to the next level, I will help them get there.”

Originally from Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia, he played football from the age of five all the way through college. “I attended Chestnut Hill College and was the starting quarterback and team captain all four years. After graduation, I began my coaching career for my alma mater as the quarterbacks and wide receivers coach for two seasons before relocating to Arizona.”

Marino was looking for an opportunity to continue his coaching career and connected with Head Football Coach Brandon Payne at Arete Prep and was hired as an assistant coach where he gained valuable experience. Once Payne moved on to work at Hampton University, Marino had the opportunity to interview with Athletic Director Todd Conklin for the vacant head coach position.

“My initial thought was to give our program and players consistency,” said Conklin. “Mike Marino came to mind immediately. He was our defensive coordinator in 2022, but from my interactions with Coach Marino, I was most excited about his offensive mind and where he could take us on that side of the ball. I knew he was young and had limited coaching experience having just finished playing college football a few years ago. But I also know that everyone needs their first opportunity to lead at some point, and I sensed Mike was and is ready. I will never forget the first AD that provided my first opportunity to lead a varsity program at 23 years old.”

Marino said he chose to accept the position because he felt his values and goals for a football team aligned with Conklin’s vision for Arete’s athletics program. “Having the support and shared vision of an athletic director is a huge positive for any coach in building a successful team,” said Marino. “I was also familiar with the student-athletes I would be working with since I was their defensive coordinator last year. They are a very smart and hard-working group of kids that any coach would have the pleasure of working with.”

While Marino’s age allows him to relate on a different level with his players, Conklin believes Marino’s maturity and football mind are well beyond his years. “His passion for the sport is on display daily and the team feeds off his energy and love for the game. Mike has earned the respect of our players through grueling spring and summer workouts, and it is clear early in ’23-24 that there is program buy-in from parents, players, and our Arete community. We hope Coach Marino will not just start his promising coaching career with us but remain the leader of our program for years to come.”

“My goal for the program moving forward is to take them to new heights in their time of 11-man football. Since Arete Prep has joined the 2A ranks in AZ high school football they have not had a winning record and my goal is to change that,” said Marino.

Marino and the Arete Prep football team were recently featured in The East Valley Tribune: https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/sports/football-preview-dynamic-duo-leading-arete-prep/article_2886d602-3abc-11ee-a98b-2f22018ad7d9.html

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