The New York Giants have named Kristen Patnode, head coach of the Northeastern Clinton High School flag football team (Champlain, NY), as the inaugural recipient of the High School Flag Football Coach of the Week award for Week 1 of the 2025 season.
Introduced this season, the High School Flag Football Coach of the Week Award is part of the Giants’ ongoing initiative to support local high school flag football programs. Each week during the high school girls’ flag football season, the Giants will recognize one local head coach for their dedication to youth football, fostering motivated student-athletes, and making a positive impact in their community.
In honor of Coach Patnode’s selection, the Northeastern Clinton flag football program will receive a $2,000 donation from The Giants Foundation. Patnode will also be presented with a certificate of recognition, signed by Giants head coach Brian Daboll, and will be celebrated at a special ceremony after the season and at a 2025 Giants preseason home game.
Under Coach Patnode’s leadership, the Northeastern Clinton Cougars made history in 2024 by winning Section VII’s first-ever girls’ flag football championship with an impressive 11-3 record. They continued their success in the state playoffs, dominating Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake 67-13 before falling to Owego Free Academy in the regional round. The Cougars are poised to build on their success in the upcoming season with Coach Patnode at the helm.
In addition to her role as the varsity girls’ flag football coach, Patnode serves as the Athletics Coordinator, ensuring a balanced experience for student-athletes that integrates academics, sports, and community involvement.
“Our NCCS community is fortunate to have Coach Patnode, whose dedication, leadership, and passion have left a lasting impact on her student-athletes,” said Tim Surprenant, Athletic Director at Northeastern Clinton High School. “She’s not just a coach—she’s a mentor, a role model, and a consistent source of support.”
Coach Patnode’s commitment to her athletes extends beyond the field. For example, senior Katelynn Johnston was recognized as one of eleven finalists for the Giants’ Heart of a Giant Award in 2024, celebrating her as one of the most inspiring football players in the tri-state area.
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