An advertisement in the Washington Post is to thank for two consecutive state championships. Coach Frank Spinello came to Mason by chance, seeing an ad, interviewing, and being offered the open spot. The rest is history.

Setting a national record for most saves during a game (28), and most saves during a season, Spinello was an all-star goalkeeper. He was named All-State Goalkeeper when attending South Lakes high school and All-American Goalkeeper later, when attending Barton College. As a Barton Bulldog, Spinello’s team ranked third in the nation in 1984.

Coach Spinello currently owns his own company in Manassas, called Total Fitness Corporation, which services gyms and government service fitness centers. Knowing he wanted to be involved in sports and fitness, Spinello flew right into it after majoring in business administration and minoring in sports administration.

Yet another award to add to his list of accomplishments, Coach Spinello was named 2014 High School Boys Soccer Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches of America. “Its gonna help me keep focused and grounded. [It’s like] some expectation I kinda feel like I have to look up to every now and then,” he said.

“I think that over the years he has really proven himself as such a good coach, that he really deserves a lot of respect on the team and he gets it. When he says something, we do it,” said senior team captain, Ned Quill.

With two consecutive state championships in his belt, Spinello is seeking to be the first boys team in Virginia to win three state championships in a row.

“Last year’s state championship was well earned. I knew we had the most talented team in the state and the most dominant team ever at Mason,” said Spinello, “It was just a matter of making sure that we peaked at the right time, stayed focused and continued to do the right things away from the field to prepare properly. The balance between focus, heart and talent was there for us all season,” Spinello said.

Another expectation, he says, is for his players to be successful on the field and in the classroom and to be active in the community.

“I want our players to have a strong sense of community by either helping out in camps or clinics or volunteering on their own hours in other ways. There’s so many ways other than soccer that you can help in the community. It gives them a sense of self accomplishment. It’s for their future and diversity to keep them involved when they’re a little older.”