Published on: Thursday, December 06, 2012

By Brandy L. Simms

SILVER SPRING - Montgomery Blair High School has fired head football coach Jeff Seals who spent the past three decades at his alma mater.

“They let me go,” said Seals, a 1977 Blair graduate who played college football at West Virginia University. “They’re going in a different direction.”

Seals spent the past eight years guiding the Silver Spring school’s varsity team as head coach. During his tenure, the Blazers twice suffered through winless seasons going 0-10 in 2007 and 2011. However, Blair finished 6-4 in 2005 and went 5-5 during the 2008 campaign.

“My greatest memories are the kids that graduate,” said Seals, who compiled 25 wins in nine seasons including a 2-8 record this year. “It’s all about life. I’m really proud of all the kids that play football and graduate.”

Seals said he will remain as head of security at Blair and looks forward to watching his teenage son play next year. Jaden Seals was a ninth grader on Blair’s junior varsity team this year.

“I’ll still be at the games cheering for the kids,” said Seals. “I’ll be around the kids. I just won’t be on the sideline.”

Blair is the third Montgomery County public school to make a coaching change in the past month. Richard Montgomery and Neal Owens parted ways after three years and Rich Noland resigned from B-CC weeks after guiding the Barons to the program’s second consecutive Maryland 4A state playoff appearance and third postseason appearance in school history.