FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – 400 wins. 49 seasons. 10 state championships. In a game where Northbridge High School bounced Oxford 39-0 in the first round of the Division 7 tournament, it was head coach Ken Lachapelle's resumé that told the story. The performance couldn't have been more fitting for Lachapelle, who's 400th career victory as a head coach earned him the honor of the New England Patriots Coach of the Week.
Ken Lachapelle becomes the first coach in MIAA and New England history to reach 400 victories as a head coach. "It's really unbelievable when you think about it," said Catholic Memorial head coach John DiBiaso, who earned his 369th coaching victory on Friday night. "If someone started coaching now, they would have to go 10-0 for 40 years to reach 400," DiBiaso said. "To win 400 is a tremendous achievement, and to do it all with the same school is just unbelievable," said long-time Foxboro High School head coach Jack Martinelli, who earned his 312th coaching victory on Friday.
NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Andre Tippett, who presently holds the role of Executive Director of Community Affairs for the New England Patriots, had a meeting with the Rams on Tuesday at Northbridge High School. During the meeting, he presented a generous donation of $1,000 to the football program on behalf of the Kraft family and the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation. The acknowledgment pays homage to Coach Lachapelle's commitment to the development of the next generation.
"Reaching 400 wins is a monumental achievement that reflects Ken Lachapelle's unwavering commitment to excellence and love of the game," Tippett said. "He has shaped countless young men, teaching them the values of discipline, resilience, and integrity."
The visit and donation presentation will be showcased on the Patriots' weekly television program, "Patriots All Access." You can catch the episode on Friday night at 7 p.m. on WBZ-TV in Boston, and it will also be available for immediate viewing on Patriots.com. The acknowledgment and support underscore the Patriots' dedication to community engagement and the recognition of exceptional individuals, exemplified by Coach Lachapelle.
This is the 29th 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. The 2024 season marks the 13th year that Tippett has taken the award on the road to visit the schools that benefit from the program. At the conclusion of the fall, one of the weekly winners will be named the New England Patriots High School Coach of the Year and will receive an additional $2,000 contribution towards the school's football program.
For the 14th straight year, the Patriots will also be accepting nominations for High School Coach of the Week honors. Those who wish to nominate a high school football coach in New England who leads a team to an exceptional weekly performance or reaches a personal career milestone are encouraged to send submissions to nominatecoach@patriots.com. All nominations must be submitted following a team's Friday night or Saturday afternoon game to be considered for that week's Coach of the Week award.
The Patriots Foundation is the non-profit through which the Patriots support charitable and philanthropic organizations throughout New England. This support comes in the form of direct grants, in-kind donations and player appearances. The foundation assists a variety of charitable organizations and programs throughout New England by supporting their educational, family and health initiatives.
