Wood names Mosco as coach

During the Neumann-Goretti boys' basketball season, head coach Carl Arrigale and top assistant John Mosco joked that they spoke to each other more than they spoke to their wives.

They were more than basketball coaches, Arrigale said. The two, both Neumann grads, knew each other since they played for different Catholic grade schools in South Philadelphia. In their 20s, they played on the same rough-touch football squads and later signed their kids up together for baseball.

They spent 16 seasons together at Neumann-Goretti, building the Saints into an area power. And that all made Wednesday bittersweet when Mosco accepted the head-coaching job at Archbishop Wood.

"We're friends. We're not just workers," Mosco said. "I owe everything to him. Where I'm at today is a result of working with him."

Arrigale and Mosco guided the Saints to nine Catholic League titles, including the last five. Mosco said it is like a breakup. Arrigale said he will miss his friend, but could not hold him back from the Wood job. The hardest part, Arrigale said, will be replacing Mosco's work behind the scenes with scheduling and other tasks.

"Carl gave me the freedom to help run the program," said Mosco, 48.

At Wood, Mosco replaces Jack Walsh, who resigned in June.

Joe Sette, Wood's athletic director, said all signs pointed to Mosco during the hiring process. He helped build a program, Sette said, and was a successful junior-varsity coach. Mosco met the Wood parents on Wednesday, just a few hours after saying farewell to the Saints. He will meet his new players on Friday.

"They are getting a guy that cares. More than anything, they're getting a great man," Arrigale said. "The parents should be excited about having a guy like John. He'll look after their kids and go the extra mile for them."

On Feb. 7, 2014, late in the Catholic League season, Wood will host Neumann-Goretti in what should be a crucial league game. And for the first time since they were in grade school, the two friends from South Philly will be on opposite sides of the court.

"That will always be different," Arrigale said.

Contact Matt Breen at mbreen@phillynews.com or @matt_breen on Twitter.