Published in the May 5, 2017 edition
COACH TIM Morris of the Melrose High Red Raider football team has been named the 2017 MIAA Football Coach of the Year. (Donna Larsson photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—Melrose High School football coach Tim Morris has received the 2017 MIAA Football Coach of the Year award. Morris, who brought Melrose to the Super Bowl in both 2014 and 2015, will be honored at the MIAA Awards Recognition Banquet on May 25, 2017 at the Doubletree Hotel in Milford.
Morris has enjoyed a winning record of 163-97-4 as head coach for the Red Raiders since taking over in head coach duties 22 years ago. In the last three years alone Morris has earned Melrose two Div. 3 North sectional titles, two Super Bowl appearances, two league titles, the team’s first undefeated 12-0 regular season (2015) and an overall record of 29-5 in three seasons.
The Melrose resident has coached football in Melrose for 33 years, and graduated from MHS in 1978, where he played offensive lineman under legendary Red Raider coach, Joe Hoague. Morris also played college football at Bridgton Academy and Springfield College. He began his service at Melrose High School as an assistant coach to the late Bruce MacPherson, a role he held for eleven years before taking over head coach duties in 1994.
“It’s an honor to be recognized,” Morris told the Melrose Weekly News. “I think it’s a culmination of many years of work in our organization that hopefully reflects the values the MIAA stand for.”
Morris’ philosophy on the game exists as a sort of alchemy, where classroom achievement blends with a strong work ethic on the field. “We stress academics,” Morris said. “We feel strongly that these kids can create a transcript for college and we want to see them succeed outside of football. We believe in the ethics of hard work and doing the right thing on and off the field. If you do well in the classroom, you’re going to go far.”
The most rewarding part of his coaching tenure hasn’t necessarily been his dominating seasons (and Super Bowl appearances) but seeing the evolution of the kids he has coached over the years. “It’s fun to win championships, but It’s great to see players move on and do well. I coached Melrose’s current principal and athletic director. If football can be considered a small part of that kind of success, great.”
Football has been a family affair for coach Morris. Three of his sons attended Melrose High: Mike, Sean and Tim; the last two suited up on the Red Raider football team and advanced to college football at St. Anselm’s and Williams, respectively. Over the years, a lot of changed for Morris (and not just Fred Green Field.) Once-heated games between old rivals Reading and Lexington are harder to come by, and Morris misses the camaraderie with larger-than-life coaches. “Rocky Nelson [Woburn] just retired this year. Things have changed but in terms of this Melrose team, we’re the same, and we bring the same values and work ethic to the field each year.”
And they always look to improve. “We’re never satisfied, always looking to improve. Not just the players but our coaches. We can always do better.”
Much of the team’s credit goes to his coaching staff. “I’ve had some of the best assistant coaches, guys that could have moved on and be head coaches themselves,” says Morris. “Jim Kent has been with me since the beginning. But there is a certain brand of loyalty in Melrose football that is hard to come by. It’s a real family atmosphere and we want to continue that tradition for years to come, so that every player is proud to wear the Red Raider uniform.”
