By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—He has compiled a career of milestones as a high school girls volleyball coach, now Melrose High’s Scott Celli has broken another one:
500 coaching wins.
On Oct. 9, Melrose’s 26-year head coach earned his 500th win as head of the esteemed Melrose High girls volleyball program, a huge milestone for any coach, most certainly a long decorated one at Melrose High. In his 26 years, Celli has compiled a win loss record of 500-101 and brought Melrose to a state championship in 2012. His previous coaching at Avon and St. John’s Prep has his career win number much higher.
Ten of coach Celli’s Melrose High teams earned Sectional titles, most recently in 2023. He has also earned 23 Middlesex League Championships, including last season.
Celli, dad of two sons Alec and Ryan (current asst. coach of the team) was named Boston Globe Coach of the Year in 2009. He and his wife Mary are Stoneham residents and Celli has worked at Melrose High as a math teacher for several decades. When asked how it felt to achieve this milestone, Celli was reflective. “Reaching 500 wins is really nice. It allows me to think about all of the players and coaches who have been part of the program for the past 26 years,” he said. “It is always special to see my former players. A number of them reached out to me when they heard of the 500 wins. That meant a lot to me.”
Some memorable recent seasons include two, back-to-back Sectional titles in 2021-22 and an appearance at the Div. 2 state finals in 2017. Melrose teams earning 20+ wins per season have been a standard in an ever-improving Middlesex League. It’s been a long run and Melrose volleyball remains as popular as ever, evidenced by large crowds that decorate the Melrose High gym. With a decades-long roster of incredible players, and plenty of dynamic trophy-achieving moments, the one that stands out is obvious: the 2012 State title.
“The most special moment was winning the State championship in 2012,” he confirms. Melrose that year had finished a nearly flawless 26-1 season. And since then, he has been proud to see his players bring their winning spirit into the real world. He says, “Volleyball players are very passionate about the Melrose High volleyball experience. Winning, having fun, and being a part of a positive culture drives them for success.”
Celli, a MAVCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2011, will be a shoo-in for the Melrose High Athletic Hall of Fame in the future (his 2012 team is already in it.) And, he is grateful for the help he’s had along the way. “I would like to thank our coaching staff, Steve Wall and Andrea Morrissey and to the entire team.”
In the meantime, there there is plenty more to do. “The future of the program is very bright,” he says. “We have 5 freshmen and 4 sophomores on the team, along with two juniors. I am really excited to be coaching them for the next few years.”
Stats:
26 years Melrose coach
500 wins, 101 losses
Boston Globe Coach
of the Year-2009
MAVCA Hall of Fame-2011
10 Sectional Titles
1 State Title
23 Middlesex League
Championships