FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – After leading his team to a 12-1 overall record and their second MIAA Division VI State Championship in three years, Fairhaven High School's Derek Almeida has been selected as the New England Patriots Coach of the Year.
Almeida, a 1998 Fairhaven High School graduate, took the reins of his alma mater in 2020 after the program had not had a winning season since 2012. Since taking over as head coach, Almeida has molded the Blue Devils into a perennial championship contender, reaching the Super Bowl in each of the past three seasons and winning two. He led a group in 2025 headlined by a trio of running backs: seniors Aaron Lague, Ian Alexion and Grant Darmofal, with the latter two combining for over 350 yards and 4 touchdowns in the championship game. On the season, Almeida's squad scored 39.6 points per game while only allowing 16.2 points on average, dominating their competition.
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 Blue Devils on Tuesday at Fairhaven High School. During the meeting, he presented a generous donation of $2,000 to the football program on behalf of the Kraft family and the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation. The acknowledgment pays homage to Coach Almeida's commitment to the development of the next generation.
"Coach Derek Almeida's success at Fairhaven didn't happen overnight," said Tippett. "It's the product of years of building strong programs, developing young athletes the right way and proving, season after season, that disciplined football wins games. His background as a proven winner and a culture-builder shows in everything this Fairhaven team does. This State Championship is a reflection of his steady leadership, his football IQ and his ability to get the very best out of his players. What Coach Almeida has done for Fairhaven football is remarkable, and this title is just the latest chapter in a career defined by consistency, toughness and excellence."
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 Almeida.
This is the 30th 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 2025 season marks the 15th year that Tippett has taken the award on the road to visit the schools that benefit from the program.
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.
