FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Belmont High School's Kevin Gildea has been named the New England Patriots High School Coach of the Week in recognition of his team's first win since 2002.
Belmont started its season 1-0, notching its first victory in 22 games when the Marauders beat Bedford High by a score of 20-14 last Friday. Andrew Diozzi scored on a 6-yard touchdown run with less than a minute to play to secure Belmont's first victory since Nov. 28, 2002 when it beat Watertown High, 27-6. Coach Gildea is in his first season at the helm of the Marauders.
This season marks the 10th year in which the Patriots have joined the National Football League in conducting the High School Coach of the Week program, which recognizes outstanding high school coaches and promotes youth football throughout New England.
Patriots Hall of Fame linebacker Andre Tippett, who is now the team's director of football development and promotions, oversees the program as part of the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation's commitment to youth football initiatives. Each week during the season, Tippett, along with WCVB Channel 5 sports anchor Mike Lynch, will honor the selected coach on the team's weekly magazine show, Patriots All Access. The broadcast airs Saturdays at 7:00 p.m. and Sundays at 10:00 a.m. on WCVB and is followed on Sunday mornings by Totally Patriots, a new youth-oriented football show, at 11:00 a.m.
"It's still early for Belmont, but it is clear that they have made some changes," Tippett said. "Winners make the choice to get something out of each situation, rather than complain about them. They have made the choice to forget about their past and move forward, and they have a great win to show for it. Congratulations to Coach Gildea, his staff and all of the Belmont players for a huge victory."
The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation will donate $1,000 to Belmont High School's football program in Gildea's name in recognition of his selection as Coach of the Week. At the conclusion of the season, one of the previous weekly honorees will be named the New England Patriots High School Coach of the Year, and will receive a $2,000 contribution to go toward the school's football program.
The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation, Inc. is the non-profit organization through which the Patriots support charitable and philanthropic organizations throughout New England. This support comes in the form of both direct grants and in-kind donations, and through player appearances at a number of charity functions and educational programs. The foundation assists a variety of charitable organizations and programs throughout New England by supporting their educational, family and health initiatives.
