EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence High School boys' soccer program dipped into its past recently to find its next head coach as 2001 alum Tim Calouro takes over the reins from his former Townie teammate and close friend Tony Vieira.

Vieira decided the 2022 season would be his last, ending a 13-year run on the EPHS sidelines . In his stead comes Calouro, who actually assisted on Vieira's first-ever varsity goals nearly a quarter century ago when they joined up on the Townies' attack and who has kept close touch with the program, especially in the last several seasons.

"Tony and I are good friends. I've known Tony for years. We've always had a really close alumni group," Calouro said. He continued, "When Tony said he was all done, I said I'm going to put my hat in the ring. There were a lot of really good guys who put in for the job. I'm just glad I was chosen for it."

Calouro had a decorated playing career for the Townies. He was selected second-team All-Division I as a sophomore back in 1998. The following year he was chosen first team All-Division, earning the same accolade as a senior while also being tabbed first-team All-State.

Calouro played at the next level, suiting up for a season at St. Joseph's College in Maine then competing on the Rhode Island College squad for more two years before hanging up his boots.

About six years ago, Calouro got back into the sport in a meaningful way, joining up with a group of other families (he and his wife Jamie are parents to three sons — Zander, Logan and Rocco) to form East Providence Youth Soccer, a break-away group from the established American Youth Soccer Organization in city. He remains with EPYS as its vice president.

"A lot of these guys I've had since they were U8 (under eight-year-old). I've known them since babies," Calouro said of the cast of Townies he inherited. "It's a good group of dudes. I'm really excited to be here. It's a good time to jump in."

Calouro jumped in, in part, because of his own history with the program and that of his father, Benjamin, who was on the EPHS championship teams of the early 1970s sparked by Serafin Andrade and Estacio "Stacey" DeCastro.

The program's winning tradition continued with the next group of players led by Calouro's coach, Mario Andrade, and Mario Pereira.

In all, the Townies, under coach George Poli, played for six of the first 12 Rhode Island Interscholastic League state championships, winning five, including three in a row. East Providence defeated the old Bristol High team in 1970, Mount St. Charles in '71 and Westerly in '72. Bristol returned the favor in 1975, topping the Townies as the Colts would again in 1979. EPHS won what is its last state title in 1976, beating Smithfield.

Calouro said once he got back involved in the sport, starting on the administrative side, it quickly sparked in his interest to coach. He said while he enjoyed helping kids in that way, being on the field, instructing is what that was his real calling.

At around the same time he rekindled his interest and attention of EPHS soccer, often going to varsity games where, because of their shared respect, Vieira would seek his input, like at the halftime break.

"Any time I could get to a game Tony would let me speak to the team tell them what I saw, what they could get better at, tactics," Calouro said. "It always starts with what are your goals, guys? What are your individual goals, team goals, what are we setting up here? What are we doing to have success, are we working hard, are you giving your best effort?"

He took that same tact into his interview with District Athletic Director Alex Butler and EPHS Principal Bill Black, providing the administrators with a glimpse of how he would guide the team going forward.

"I kind of laid it out flat, that I would have the best interest of East Providence if I got the job, taking these kids to the next level and having them be gentlemen," Calouro said. "Alex Butler, Principal Black, we had a really good discussion about the boys, about the program and where I thought it should go."

Calouro said he emphasizes relationships, saying the foundation of any club is how the players interact. "First and foremost is the vibe between the guys," he explained.

"I'm big on encouragement. I want guys to up-lift each other. I want this to be a brotherhood because when guys work together as a collective effort, you can really be a great team. The vibe has to be that we have this special sauce and you want to climb the mountain together."

The "mountain," of course, is the state title, which has eluded the Townies for nearly 50 years now. Like his predecessors, it will be Calouro's aim to reach the summit as long as he leads the program.

"My goal is to win the whole thing at some point," Calouro said. "It would nice to get (the state championship) back into East Providence's hands."