Image courtesy of the New England Patriots 

A historic week for legendary Northbridge head coach Ken Lachapelle got a little sweeter on Tuesday morning.

The Rams beat Oxford 39-0 in a D7 first round game last Friday night, which also gave LaChappelle his 400th win. LaChapelle is the first coach in not only Massachusetts history, but New England history to reach that milestone. It comes in his 49th season as Northbridge looks to add an 11th state title to his resumé in a few weeks.

“It’s really unbelievable when you think about it,” said Catholic Memorial head coach John DiBiaso in a statement released by the Patriots. DiBiaso is widely considered one of the best coaches in Massachusetts history and just earned his 369th coaching victory on Friday night in CM’s D2 playoff win. “If someone started coaching now, they would have to go 10-0 for 40 years to reach 400.”

“To win 400 is a tremendous achievement,” added Foxboro coach Jack Martinelli, who earned win No. 312 this past Friday in a postseason win for his Warriors. “And to do it all with the same school is just unbelievable.”

Hall of Fame linebacker Andre Tippett – now better known as the Executive Director of Community Affairs for the Pats – presented the award with the entire team on hand Tuesday morning. Each weekly winner of the Patriots’ Coach of the Week award also receives a $1,000 donation to the football program on behalf of the Kraft family and the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation.

This is year 29 for Patriots joining the National Football League with High School Coach of the Week program. This year is the 13th year that Tippett has taken the award on the road each week and presented it to a coach. At the end of the season, all award winners are honored during a game at Gillette and a Coach of the Year will also be name. The recipient of that honor will receive a $2,000 donation.

“Reaching 400 wins is a monumental achievement that reflects Ken Lachapelle’s unwavering commitment to excellence and love of the game,” Tippett said in the same statement. “He has shaped countless young men, teaching them the values of discipline, resilience, and integrity.”

Northbridge is looking to advance to the Division 7 state semifinals this Friday night when the fourth-seeded Rams  host No. 5 Millbury at 6 p.m.