New York Giants name Masuk coach Chris Pace Coach of the Week
The New York Giants and Gatorade selected Chris Pace of Masuk High School in Monroe, Connecticut, as the Lou Rettino High School Coach of the Week for Week 9 of the 2026 season, the team announced Oct. 27, 2026. Pace earned the honor after guiding the Panthers to a 6-0 start with a 42-37 road victory over previously undefeated Pomperaug High School. The selection recognizes his work leading Masuk during a stretch in which the team produced high offensive totals.
The win over Pomperaug followed a 41-26 victory over longtime rival Bunnell and marked Masuk’s fourth consecutive game scoring 40 or more points. Pomperaug entered the matchup unbeaten and brought a high-powered offense, but Masuk added a late score to secure the road victory. The Panthers improved to 6-0 under Pace and built on a 5-5 finish the previous season, positioning Masuk as an early contender in Class M.
The Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Week Award is part of the Giants’ program to support area high school football and is named in memory of former Union High School coach Lou Rettino. The Giants select the honoree each week based on commitment to promoting high school football, developing motivated student-athletes and contributing to their community. In recognition of Pace’s selection, the Giants Foundation and Gatorade will donate a $2,000 grant to Masuk’s football program, and Pace will receive a certificate signed by Giants head coach John Harbaugh. He also will be honored at a postseason dinner and at a New York Giants 2027 preseason home game.
Chris Pace was named Masuk’s head football coach in 2025 after taking over a Panthers team that had won the CIAC Class MM championship the previous year. He arrived with head-coaching experience at East Harlem Pride (2010-14), Weston High School (2014-16), Bullard-Havens Technical High School (2018-19) and Abbott Tech-Immaculate United Football (2020-24), compiling a 50-15 record across those assignments. He also served as an assistant coach at Staples High School in 2017, working with quarterbacks and the passing game. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Springfield College and two master’s degrees, in multicultural education and in coaching and athletic administration, from the College of Mount Saint Vincent and Concordia University Irvine, respectively.
Pace said he was “deeply honored by this recognition, as there are so many great and deserving coaches across the region,” and thanked his wife, three children, his coaching staff and the Masuk football community for their support. He added that the award was not possible without the entire Masuk football family and praised the young men who give their all every Friday night. The recognition by the Giants and Gatorade provides a $2,000 grant and added recognition for Masuk’s program as it pursues a Class M title in 2026.
NFL Sports Blog Take
The Giants’ Lou Rettino Coach of the Week award and its accompanying $2,000 grant provide direct support and added recognition for Masuk High School’s football program. Masuk’s four-game streak of scoring 40 or more points and a 6-0 start under Pace were central to his selection. The certificate signed by Giants head coach John Harbaugh and the invitation to a 2027 preseason home game give the program additional honors. Those tangible rewards and Pace’s prior head-coaching record reinforce Masuk’s momentum as it pursues a Class M championship in 2026.