He is a 1989 graduate of Boston University, where he was a member of the basketball team under coach Mike Jarvis, on a Terriers squad that advanced to the NCAA tournament in 1988.

Spinelli also produced numerous Division I players at Winchendon, including former McDonald's All-American Randell Jackson, who played in the NBA with the Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks.

In 2000, he became a scout for the Philadelphia 76ers, where he spent one season before returning to the college level where he served as an assistant coach at Loyola-Chicago, before joining Barry Collier's staff at Nebraska, where he was part of a pair of NIT berths.

[6][7] During his four years with the Aggies, the team won 102 games, and earned four-straight NCAA tournament berths.

When Turgeon accepted the head coaching position at Maryland, Spinelli once again followed him, joining his staff.