Raised in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey, Napolitano graduated in 1974 from Steinert High School, where he was part of two state champion soccer teams.
[1] Napolitano attended Hartwick College where he played on the men's soccer team from 1974 to 1977.
[2] He turned professional in 1978 with the Houston Hurricane of the North American Soccer League.
That fall, he moved to the Pittsburgh Spirit of the Major Indoor Soccer League.
[3] He then returned to the indoor game, this time with the Hartford Hellions before finishing his career with the Philadelphia Fever.