Foxborough, Mass. – Barnstable High School’s Chris Whidden has been named this week’s New England Patriots High School Coach of the Week in recognition of his team’s 13-7 double-overtime, comeback victory over Everett High School on Friday, Sept 28. The win elevates Barnstable to No. 1 in the latest MIAA football poll, snapping Everett’s 28-game win streak and knocking Everett out of the top spot for the first time in 22 weeks. It is the first No. 1 ranking in program history for the Red Raiders. The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation will donate $1,000 to Barnstable High School’s football program in Whidden’s name in recognition of his Coach of the Week selection.Patriots and Hall of Fame linebacker Andre Tippett, the team’s executive director of community affairs, visited Coach Whidden and his team on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at Barnstable High School. The visit and check presentation will be featured on the team’s weekly television magazine show, Patriots All Access, which airs at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 5, on WBZ-TV in Boston and will be available immediately after on Patriots.com.
The 2012 season marks the 17th year in which the Patriots join 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. Tippett oversees the program as part of the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation’s commitment to youth football initiatives.
“It was a pleasure to visit Barnstable High School to present the New England Patriots Coach of the Week award to Coach Whidden and his team,” Tippett said. “The mental toughness and perseverance the team showed to go on the road, in inclement weather and pull out a win was still on display following their historic win. Coach Whidden kept his team focused despite a slow start and poor conditions and is very deserving of this honor. The Patriots are pleased to reward his team and Barnstable High School with a donation to the football program. We wish them the best of luck this season.”
At the conclusion of the season, one high school coach will be named the New England Patriots High School Coach of the Year and will receive an additional $2,000 contribution toward the school’s football program.
In 2011, Tippett decided to take the award on the road so he could visit the schools that benefit from the program. In previous years, Tippett has invited the Coach of the Week and senior captains for a visit to Gillette Stadium. This year is also the second year the Patriots will accept nominations for High School Coach of the Week. Anyone who knows a high school football coach in New England who has a great week or reaches a personal career milestone is encouraged to submit a nomination to nominatecoach@patriots.com.
The New England Patriots Charitable 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.
