Revere’s DiCristoforo back coaching girls basketball

There will be a familiar face on the bench as head coach of the Revere girls basketball team when practice begins on Monday.After stepping down in 2011 to become an assistant to Michelle Cunningham at Salem State, Diana DeCristoforo is back at the helm of the Patriots, replacing Katelyn Leonard, who is now girls head coach at Swampscott. DeCristoforo left the Patriots at the end of a 21-1 season that saw them win the Northeastern Conference/North title.A guidance counselor at Revere High, DeCristoforo said she is excited to be back coaching at the school where she was a standout player.?My heart is here in Revere. I love the kids here and working with them,” DeCristoforo said. “I am fortunate to have the chance to coach this group of girls again. I really can?t wait until Monday.”In her last season on the bench in 2010-11, DeCristoforo?s Revere team ran the table in the regular season, becoming the last team to win the NEC North title before the four-year run just completed by Lynn English. That team, led by Morgan Jenkins and Gena Restiano, eventually fell in the North quarterfinals to Lincoln-Sudbury.DeCristoforo hopes to bring back some of that magic as the Patriots try to return to the Division 1 North tournament after finishing 8-12 last season. Before that, Revere had made the tournament four straight seasons, including a 37-6 run in DeCristoforo?s two years as coach in 2009 and 2010.Since the 2009 season, Revere has been one of the quiet success stories in the NEC, going a cumulative 67-40 over the last five seasons.?Wherever I?ve coached, at camps or clinics or even here, it?s always been about the team. The best teams that I?ve been a part of have been like that,” DeCristoforo said. “Teams take on the personality of their coach and hopefully that happens here.”When the job opened up, DeCristoforo, a 1999 graduate of Revere High, didn?t have to think long about returning to the school that she loves with a passion.?I was interested right away,” DeCristoforo said. “I thought about it and decided to go for it. It?s a place where I played, have taught and worked at for a long time. It?s been a part of who I am. It?s in my heart.”The Patriots return a good mix of experience and youth to the court, including some players from the Revere Middle School team that went unbeaten last season.Leading the way will be senior captains Tiphani Harris, an NEC all-star last season, and Ally Hinojosa.?(Harris and Hinojosa) are our leaders on and off the court,” DeCristoforo said. “We have some talented upperclassmen and our freshmen are talented. Tryouts are going to be fun. We are going to go as hard as we can and whoever is the best will be out on the floor.”Revere opens its second run under DeCristoforo?s leadership on Dec. 16 against Lynn Classical.?I can?t wait to get going and have these girls try to compete as a team,” DeCristoforo said.