By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle
The National Football League has named Ray Seals of Madison (Houston, TX) High School 2008 High School Football Coach of the Year. Seals, who was one of five finalist for the honor, was nominated by two of his former players, Detroit Lions running back Moran Norris and Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young.
More than 60 players recognized the coaches who helped shape them during their high school years. In his essay, Young called a great coach who truly has a passion not only for the sport, but for the community he coaches in, the school and the players Norris praised Seals as a “father figure.”
“Our players come from different backgrounds, regions and life experiences,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “The one thing they all have in common is that they received guidance and learned important life lessons from their high school coaches. The five finalists dedicated their lives to teaching young players how to become leaders both on and off the field, and we congratulate them and all high school coaches for the roles they play in helping develop the leaders of our game.”
The other finalists were Danny Cronic of East Coweta (Newnan, GA), who was nominated by Keith Brookings of the Atlanta Falcons and Chris Hanson of the New England Patriots; Rob MacLachlan of Wallaceburg District Secondary School (Ontario, Canada) nominated by Shaun Suisham of the Washington Redskins; Ken Ozee of Sam Houston High School (Arlington, TX) nominated by Mark Clayton of the Baltimore Ravens and Tom Padjen of Thornton Fractional South (Lansing, IL) nominated by Pierre Thomas of the New Orleans Saints.
Each finalist received a $2,500 cash award and a $5,000 grant for their high school football programs. Seals will attend Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa Bay as a guest of the NFL and receive a $5,000 cash award and a $10,000 grant for his high school football program. All grants are awarded by the NFL Youth Football Fund.
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