Published in the December 8, 2017 edition

MELROSE COACH Tim Morris earned Melrose High their first ever Super Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 2 with a 21-0 shutout over Nashoba. (Donna Larsson photo)

By JENNIFER GENTILE

MELROSE—Saturday’s Super Bowl victory was a historic day for Melrose High head coach Tim Morris, who after 24 years of coaching the Red Raider football team, earned a first-ever state title for Melrose after the team’s four efforts in 2015, 2014 and 1982. 

It’s the culmination of decades of successful work for Morris (175-97-4) in his coaching career at MHS. Recently, he was awarded the MIAA Coach of the Year Award in 2016—a reflection the successful system he’s built. 

Morris is a lifelong resident of Melrose and product of the MHS school system. The former Red Raider football player took the reigns as head coach in 1994 after ten years of assistant coach duties. Since then, he has brought Melrose to Sectionals three straight years from 2013-2015 and earned two, back-to-back North titles in 2014 and 2015. Morris was previously named Boston Globe Coach of the Year in 1998, Patriots Coach of the Week in 1999, 2004 and 2007 and Middlesex League Coach of the Year in 1998, 1999, 2004 and 2007. 

TIM MORRIS and captains Colin Kiernan (l) and Adam Caffey (r) celebrate Melrose’s historic 21-0 Super Bowl victory over Nashoba Regional on Saturday. For the first time the state trophy comes come to Melrose. (Donna Larsson photo)

Surely, the only thing missing was a Super Bowl title. 

After Saturday’s win, Morris spoke about the ride to the top. “It’s a great feeling and I’m happy for the kids. It’s been a long time coming. I think the last undefeated team was 1946. So, we tell our guys to just keep working at it. I’m so proud of them of their efforts.”

And while Melrose remains in a state of celebration, it’s back to the training room for Morris. Next up: coaching the reigning State Champion MHS wresting team as assistant to Div. 3 Coach of the Year James Bleiler, who was also part of this year’s football coaching staff. The duo of Morris/Bleiler have brought a pair of Melrose High Championship titles since January.  And no doubt for Tim Morris, a three-peat has a nice ring to it.

We’re on to wrestling!