Hopkinton Football Coach Named Patriots Coach Of The Week

HOPKINTON, MA – Hopkinton High School football coach Jim Girard is this week's Patriots High School Coach of the Week. Girard was hailed for leading the Hillers to a perfect 7-0 season, and Hopkinton High School's first Tri-Valley League championship since 2005.

Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Andre Tippett, who now serves as the Patriots' executive director of community affairs, visited the team on Tuesday and presented it with a $1,000 donation on behalf of the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation. The visit will be featured on "Patriots All Access" Friday night at 7 p.m. on WBZ-TV and will be available immediately after on Patriots.com.

Now in his eighth year as head coach, Girard oversaw a 2017 season that included three shutout wins and the Hillers' first victory over neighboring Holliston in almost a decade. Hopkinton will face Pembroke in the first round of the playoffs this Friday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.

This is the 22nd year the New England Patriots have conducted the High School Coach of the Week initiative. One of the weekly winners will be named the New England Patriots High School Coach of the Year at the end of the fall and receive a $2,000 contribution toward the school's football program.

To nominate a coach who leads a team to an exceptional weekly performance or reaches a personal career milestone, email nominatecoach@patriots.com.

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