Todd Kiley has stepped down after 21 seasons as Holliston High’s head football coach, and, in a text to the Daily News late Wednesday night, said he accepted the head coaching position at Franklin High.
“It is very difficult to leave a place where you are extremely happy,” he said. “A place where you have created so many memories with so many kids and families. A place that you and your family have poured their hearts and souls into for 21 years. A place where families have bought into the culture year in and year out to achieve what we have achieved.”
Eian Bain, hired in April to coach at Bridgewater-Raynham after spending eight years at Franklin, praised Kiley in a text to the Daily News and weighed in on his former team’s future.
“Coach Kiley represents the best of the best in football coaches in the state of Massachusetts,” Bain said. “I’m very excited for him, the Franklin players, and the Franklin community. I know they are in the best of hands moving forward.”
Kiley, a 1989 Holliston grad, led the Panthers to seven Tri-Valley League championships, an Eastern Mass. Super Bowl in 2010 and state championships in 2014 and 2015. His record is 169-60 with just two losing seasons.
His son, TJ, played for him through 2022 and became just the fifth Holliston player to surpass 3,000 passing yards.
Megliola:Holliston coach Kiley’s football career has been a journey
Franklin won 10 games two seasons ago, winning the Kelley-Rex Division with a win over rival King Philip on Thanksgiving. FHS began last season with a 5-2 record before losing its final four games. Kiley is leaving one solid Panther program for another.
Franklin is in the Hockomock League, which produced Division 2 state champion King Philip and Division 5 state champ Foxborough. Milford, in Division 3, reached the Final Four and finished 9-2.
“To leave a group I was extremely excited about speaks volumes about what I think Franklin has to offer,” Kiley said. “Coach Bain has created a winning culture similar to Holliston.
“This is going to be an exciting challenge competing in the best (top to bottom) league in Massachusetts. I am hungry to take on this new challenge. I am grateful and honored to be part of such a rich athletic tradition that Franklin High is and can’t wait to meet my new crew and get to work.”
Holliston athletic director Matt Baker said “Coach Kiley will always be a Holliston Panther,” in a text to the Daily News on Thursday morning.
“It’s tough to put into words the impact Todd has had on the football program, school and community over the last 21 years,” Baker continued. “It goes beyond the X’s and O’s and the wins on the field. He built a culture that kids and families wanted to be a part of and made Holliston proud. It is certainly the end of an era and while I’m sad to see him go, I wish him the best of luck and continued success.”
After playing quarterback his senior year at Westfield State in 1993, Kiley’s first coaching duties were as an assistant at Fitchburg State. One of his first jobs out of college was as a part-time physical education teacher in Framingham. He also spent five years as an assistant at Natick High under Bob Ghilani.
Holliston finished 6-5 last season, but the fall and the ensuing offseason were known for much more than football. The team honored the life of former Panther Tim Garry in an October home game against Hopkinton. Garry died on Sept. 3, 2023 at age 30.
The program also lost former head coach Tom Caito, who died at age 86 on March 17. Caito coached the Panthers from 1969-75, won a state championship in ’71 and was a member of Holliston’s first Hall of Fame class.
Holliston opens the 2024 season against Canton at home on Sept. 6. Next season’s captains are Caleb Greenberg, Charlie Stott and Lucas David Beadenkopf.
