FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Melrose High School's Tim Morris has been named the New England Patriots High School Coach of the Week in recognition of his team's undefeated 9-0 record and the school's first postseason appearance since 1982.
Melrose improved its record to 9-0 on the season with a 47-32 victory over Stoneham High School on Nov. 12 to clinch the Middlesex League title and an appearance in the Eastern Massachusetts playoffs. The postseason berth is the first for the Red Raiders in 22 years.
Morris is a graduate of Melrose High School, where he played football and was a member of the wrestling team. He served as an assistant coach beginning in 1983 before taking the reins as head coach at the school in 1994. He played his collegiate football at Springfield College, where he was an offensive tackle.
"Tim has really raised the expectations for this football team," said Alice MacInnis, athletic director of Melrose High School. "He would do anything for the kids and, most importantly, he makes sure they behave like gentlemen."
This season marks the ninth 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 on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and 7 p.m. on WCVB.
"This is a team that is focused and disciplined," Tippett said. "The seniors are leading by example and pulling everyone up from the boot straps. We congratulate Coach Morris and the entire team."
The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation will donate $1,000 to Melrose High School's football program in Morris'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.
