Northbridge (Mass.) HC Ken LaChapelle to cap 50-year coaching career on Thanksgiving

Legendary Massachusetts high school football coach Ken LaChapelle has almost literally seen it all when it comes to Northbridge (Mass.) program.

From being a player to an assistant and then a head coach, throughout his time as the Rams’ lead man, LaChapelle has seen 57 percent of the 1,098 games Northbridge has had as a high school football program. On Thanksgiving, LaChapelle takes to the sideline one last time to coach against rival
Uxbridge, 10 a.m. on Thursday morning.

“Yeah, this is a different year,” LaChapelle said via a Spectrum News report back in September. “It’s different because I’ve already declared it’s my last and it is my last. I figured 50 years I put in my due. We’re trying to do a lot of things where we’re having some alumni stuff going on every home game. We’re trying to honor the teams that have played in the past so that itself is a certain amount of pressure just realizing that this is it so I’m trying to make it as much fun as I can. My wife said enjoy every day cause it’s your last and I have to take that to heart.”

A couple of Ken LaChapelle facts: Since he began as NHS head coach in 1976, the Rams have won 410 games. Only Walpole (416) has won more in Massachusetts; Northbridge has played 1098 games all-time; as a player, assistant and head coach he has been part of about 630 of them

— Bill Ballou (@BillBallouTG) November 25, 2025

LaChapelle is currently the winningest high school football coach in Massachusetts with 410 victories and now heads into Thursday morning with a chance to notch a 10-win season after bowing out of the MIAA Division 7 playoffs in a 35-15 loss to Cohasset.

It’s not just about the longevity for LaChapelle, but the consistency he has done it at as well. The longtime Northbridge head coach was the first coach to have ever won 400 or more games and has led the Rams to 10 MIAA state titles. Now, his coaching career will come to a close on Thanksgiving Day with one last shot to add to what has been unbelievable run at Northbridge.

“It’s really unbelievable when you think about it,” Catholic Memorial head coach John DiBiaso said via a report when LaChapelle reached 400 wins in 2024. “If someone started coaching now, they would have to go 10-0 for 40 years to reach 400.”

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