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Patriots legend joins coaching staff for South Shore football team
Matthew Slater is taking on a new challenge.
The former Patriots captain will join on as the assistant head coach on Paul Zukauskas ' staff for the BC High football team, the school announced on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
Slater will "help shape the culture and standards of the football program while mentoring players and captains, supporting development across all levels of BC High football, and participating in varsity games, practices, camps, clinics, and selected program events," the athletic department wrote in a press release.
Slater spent the entirety of his 16-year career as the Patriots' special teams savant. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft and retired in 2023. The 10-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl champion appeared in 239 games in his career.
Zukauskas and Slater will host a camp open to players in grades 9-12 on Aug. 17–20 from 5-8 p.m.
“I am truly honored to partner with BC High and its mission of forming men for others, said Slater in a press release. “... I have always believed that football is one of the greatest classrooms for teaching life’s most important lessons. It provides opportunities to develop leadership, discipline, resilience, humility, and a heart for serving others—qualities that extend far beyond the football field.”
BC High is coming off a 4-7 season last fall. Slater's official title is 'Assistant Head Football Coach for Leadership and Player Development.'
The first day of football practice in Massachusetts is on Monday, Aug.24. The Eagles' first game is against Central Catholic on Friday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m.
"Matthew brings something rare to our staff that goes beyond X's and O's," said Zukauskas, who played four NFL seasons as a lineman for the Cleveland Browns (2001-04). "I admired his career from a distance as an All-Pro player, Super Bowl champion and captain with the New England Patriots, and now that I've had the chance to spend time with him, it's clear why he was so successful. ...
"We're aligned on what matters most — building a team our players are proud to be part of, and teaching lessons through football that will serve them long after they leave BC High."
After retiring from the NFL, Slater was an assistant coach for the Patriots under ex-coach Jerod Mayo in 2024.
Wrote BC High president Grace Cotter Regan in the release, “Matthew Slater’s arrival represents an extraordinary opportunity to elevate our football program and, more importantly, the experience of every young man who wears the BC High uniform. His leadership, integrity, and commitment to developing people align deeply with our mission. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Eagles community.”
“We are committed to building a team and a culture that begins well before varsity football," athletic director Tom Conley said in the release. "Matthew will be an important part of our work with camps and younger students, helping us build excitement, establish strong foundations, and bring even greater visibility to BC High football.”
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Patriots legend joins coaching staff for South Shore football team
PatriotsSouth ShorePaul ZukauskasBC HighMatthew SlaterAugSlaterNFL DraftPro BowlerSuper BowlZukauskasAssistant Head Football Coach
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