Coach C wins 250th game, has led Rams to 33 straight wins

Lowell Sun 

BILLERICA – In the school’s hallways and on the Shawsheen Tech sidelines, he’s known as Coach C.

Elsewhere, Al Costabile is known as one of the state’s best high school football coaches.

His track record speaks for itself.

In his 34th year of coaching, and 28th with the Rams, he has guided Shawsheen to two straight Division 5 Super Bowl titles and has taken teams to Gillette Stadium three of the last four years.

This year’s Rams are 6-0 and riding a state-best 33-game winning streak, last losing in the Division 5 state semifinals to Foxboro in 2023.

“Honestly, we have hard-working kids and a great coaching staff,” he said, deflecting the credit. “I’m very blessed to have the coaches that I have. They really, really care about what they do, and they approach every single day that way. The players understand that. We all get along, and we manage to have fun. The players notice that. There’s a family atmosphere here at Shawsheen.”

Over the last four and a half years, the Rams have gone 54-2, including winning four Commonwealth Athletic Conference titles. He has been The Sun’s Coach of the Year three of the last four years.

In his six years prior to Shawsheen Tech, he coached at Bishop Fenwick, leading the Crusaders to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances in 1995 and 1996.

Friday’s 29-0 win over Whittier Tech was a milestone victory for the veteran coach.

Overall, he has a 250-129 record, with three state champion seasons and three other state finalist campaigns.

Coach C ‘a trademark’

But if you’ve been around Coach C for a minute, or played for him or  against him, you know right away that winning streaks, state titles and newspaper headlines are rarely in his thoughts.

“Coach C is more than a name; it’s a trademark,” said former Shawsheen quarterback and longtime assistant coach Joe Gore. “Whether he coached you on the football field, taught you in the classroom, or simply crossed your path in the hallways, everyone knows Coach C and the energy, passion, and personality he brings to our school community. His impact on generations of students and student-athletes is immeasurable.”

Costabile grew up in Belmont and was an outstanding athlete in football, basketball and baseball. After a year at New Hampton Prep School, he was a tailback for Tufts University in the late 1970s. He started teaching and (assistant) coaching at Christopher Columbus High before being named the head coach at Fenwick for the 1992 season.

In his second season, he guided the Crusaders to a 9-2 record. After a sub-par two-win season in 1994, he led the team to two Super Bowl appearances, losing to Wareham and Hull.

Two years later, he left the Peabody-based school and headed 20 miles south to Cook Street in Billerica. He’s been there since and was named Shawsheen’s athletic director in 2005.

“That first season in 1998, we had a fun-loving group of players, and I’ll never forget that group,” said Costabile. “It was a different experience that really kept me on my toes and busy. I came from a parochial setting to a vocational one, and it felt different. I enjoyed the challenge. It was a change for me. I’m so glad that I did it. I was so glad they accepted me as I was – I’ll never forget that. The community, the kids, the way I have been accepted – I feel just so lucky and so fortunate.”

The following season, the Rams finished 3-7. Since then, the program has had just three losing seasons. In 2004, ’06 and ’07, Shawsheen was crowned State Voc champions. In 2010, the program won its first Super Bowl title, beating Blue Hills 20-6.

Since, the program has produced four double-digit win seasons.

“While I have never seen Al directly coach his players at practice or in the locker room, it’s clear his players love playing for him,” said Bedford head coach Tom Tone, adding that the programs have played a non-league game for almost a decade now. “He’s passionate and he gets his team to play with incredible intensity. They are obviously talented and win a lot of games, but the level of toughness his players show is something else. It’s a great challenge to play them every year to open the season. Preparing the kids for that game’s physicality is hard.

“We will play some bigger, stronger teams, but nothing really compares to Al’s Shawsheen teams. When you talk with Al before games, you can really see how much he loves it. He’s built an outstanding program at Shawsheen, and for the game’s sake, I hope he stays on the sidelines for years to come. He is a fixture of high school football in this area.”

It’s not just the ability to pile up wins – it’s how Costabile and his staff mold teams that’s truly remarkable.

“Twenty years ago, Shawsheen struggled to compete consistently with many public-school programs across the state,” said Gore. “When the vocational football playoffs were established, Coach C set a goal of building the premier vocational football program in Massachusetts and eventually winning multiple vocational Super Bowl championships. He achieved that goal in a relatively short period of time.

“Over the next decade, Coach C continued to elevate Shawsheen football to unprecedented heights,” Gore continued. “What makes those accomplishments even more impressive is that they were built at a vocational school, where unique challenges exist in competing against larger traditional high schools. His vision, determination and unwavering commitment to his players have set a standard of excellence that will leave a legacy at Shawsheen for generations.”

After losing an incredible wealth of talent from the past two championship seasons, Costabile and his staff haven’t missed a beat this season. With a nearly new lineup on both sides of the ball, the Rams rank No. 1 in the Division 5 power rankings entering Friday and have outscored opponents 152-39, including an epic 7-0 upset over Bishop Feehan, the reigning Division 2 state finalists.

“Coach C is an elite leader and motivator whose ability to earn his players’ trust and buy-in has driven the program’s success,” said Gore. “Just as importantly, he empowers his assistant coaches by trusting their expertise and giving them the freedom to coach and be creative on both sides of the ball. His leadership fosters a collaborative environment that brings out the best in players and coaches and has contributed greatly to our team’s success over the years.”

Since beating Feehan, the Rams have defeated St. Mary’s (21-12), Greater Lowell (35-7) and Whittier Tech.

“Coach Costabile and Shawsheen Tech have been extremely consistent,” said Greater Lowell head coach Shane Abrams. “They always have a solid group of football players with high football IQ who are fundamentally sound and rarely make mistakes. When a team is consistent, they hear the same message repeatedly; the kids buy in, and it shows.”

The 6-0 start gives the Rams a 33-game unbeaten streak, but Coach C says gloating about it isn’t part of the program.

“We never talk about a winning streak. We really don’t. I mean that honestly, and it’s by design, because we must focus on one game at a time,” he said. “I know that’s cliché, but we really do. Each week we have a challenge, so if you take care of business, everything else falls into place. We know one thing about the streak: that everybody wants to be the team that knocks us off.”

Still loves the game

Costabile said the game has changed dramatically over the years, but he hasn’t. He continues coaching for several reasons, most notably for the players, who he says are most important.

He still loves the game and the grind that coaches go through. He values the relationships he’s built with this staff and opposing coaches. He continues to enjoy the great people he’s worked with and met through the various communities.

With his 72nd birthday coming in December, he knows reaching another milestone such as win No. 275 or No. 300 may not be in the cards.

“I’m coaching this year, and if Shawsheen is willing to give me a shot next year (to remain football coach and athletic director), I’d really appreciate the opportunity,” he said. “After that, I’ll be done. We’re near the end, and that’s a good thing. I have four granddaughters. I’m blessed with two great daughters and sons-in-law, and a wife whom I have been married to for 43 years. I need to spend a little more time with my family.”

Until he officially retires, he wants to keep doing what he’s done since arriving at the school almost 30 years ago.

“I’m proud to be part of this school and community. I look forward to work each morning. There are many great people and many great kids. It’s just an enjoyable environment,” he said.