Walpole High coach Chris Sullivan named New England Patriots Coach of the Week
Walpole High School head coach Chris Sullivan was named the New England Patriots Coach of the Week after the Timberwolves shut out No. 11 Milton, 21-0, on Friday, Oct. 16, the team announced. The Patriots honored Sullivan for leading Walpole to a 21-0 victory that halted a high-powered Milton offense. The win moved Walpole to 4-2 on the season and marked the first time Milton had been held scoreless since Sept. 6, 2024, when the Wildcats fell 24-0 to Needham.
Walpole built a 21-0 halftime lead behind junior quarterback Blake Pileski, who completed all seven of his passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns to senior Shane Harrington. Mason Falcone added a 2-yard touchdown run, and Harrington finished with four catches for 99 yards, scoring on plays of 45 and 41 yards. Harrington also threw a 45-yard pass to Aidan Hoyle during the game.
Sullivan’s defense held Milton scoreless through a rain-soaked second half and preserved the win with an interception in the final seconds. Milton entered the contest averaging 34.6 points per game, making the shutout a notable defensive effort. The performance underscored Walpole’s balance between an efficient passing attack and a stingy defense.
NFL Hall of Famer Andre Tippett, the New England Patriots’ executive director of community affairs, visited Walpole on Tuesday to present a $1,000 donation to the football program on behalf of the Kraft family and the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation. Tippett praised Sullivan and his staff, saying, “Coach Chris Sullivan and his staff did an outstanding job preparing their team for a tremendous 21-0 victory over Milton.” The visit and donation presentation will be showcased on Patriots All Access Friday night at 7 p.m. on WBZ-TV in Boston and will be available for immediate viewing on Patriots.com.
The recognition continues a long-running Patriots initiative that began 31 years ago, and this season marks the 16th year Tippett has traveled to weekly winners. 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 receive an additional $2,000 contribution to the school’s football program. The Patriots are accepting nominations for High School Coach of the Week honors for the 16th straight year via nominatecoach@patriots.com, and nominations must be submitted following a team’s Friday night or Saturday afternoon game to be considered.
The Patriots Foundation serves as the nonprofit arm of the New England Patriots and supports charitable and philanthropic organizations across New England through grants, in-kind donations and community engagement. The foundation was established by Robert Kraft in 1994 and dedicates its work to honoring military members and veterans, supporting individuals and families facing hunger and homelessness, and promoting health, wellness and opportunity throughout the region. Through its programs, the foundation aims to strengthen the communities the Patriots call home by building bridges of hope and support.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Walpole displayed complementary football that typically draws postseason attention, combining an efficient passing game with a defense that can shut down top offenses. Blake Pileski’s perfect completion rate and Shane Harrington’s big plays highlighted an offense that can capitalize on explosive opportunities. The Patriots’ visit and donation underscored the continued emphasis the organization places on supporting high school programs across the region and gave a deserved spotlight to Walpole’s coaching staff and players.