Growing up, Sam Seeker was a baseball fan, playing on any team he could. While playing for Tallmadge, he participated in a home run derby. Sam’s father and coach, Don Seeker, participated as well. Sam sat in the dugout, eager to see how his father would do. The pitch was thrown, and the ball shot like a cannon over the fence. Sam’s jaw dropped, for he had not expected his father to win the tournament. However, it did make sense, since Don Seeker played professional baseball for a couple of years.

Don Seeker is a new face to the Revere community. The school’s Board of Education approved him to become the new athletic director in June. Seeker works closely with all of Revere athletics and can be found supporting each sport. His love of sports derived from his experience in school.

Seeker had a successful career in the game of baseball as well. It was not until the age of eleven when Seeker considered playing baseball when his friend’s father questioned why he had not. He decided to try it out and succeeded. Seeker would make the team as a twelve year old and make the all-star roster. However,  he did not make the team when he was thirteen, but he kept training for the years to come. His game started to hit its stride in high school.

“During my junior and senior years of high school baseball, I received All-League recognition. There was a big summer ball tournament, and I was fortunate enough to win the Most Valuable Player Award at this tournament in Youngstown. After, I had ten or twelve big division one schools recruiting me. So I went from not making the team when I was thirteen to getting a division one scholarship to Miami [University] of Ohio, which I accepted,” Seeker said.

Seeker played three years at Miami and declared himself for the Major League Baseball Draft. The Kansas City Royals would take Seeker, and he would play for their minor league team for a season. One day, however, the Royals cut over a dozen players, including Seeker.

“My roommate and I had breakfast that day, and we were walking back to our room. They came up to [my roommate] and wanted to talk privately in their office, which is never good news. The next thing that happened was they came up to me and wanted to talk alone. I [got cut, so I] came back home [to Tallmadge] and got married, which ended my baseball career,” Seeker said.

Seeker’s return home provided Tallmadge baseball a strong coaching candidate. After the coach at the time stepped down, Tallmadge hired Seeker for the head coach position. Seeker had big plans for the baseball program. 

“I wanted to bring the tradition and respect back to the program, and I inherited the perfect group of kids to turn it around. When I was interviewed, I said I want to win a state championship, and [the reporters] looked at me like I was crazy. My first year we went to the state tournament and lost. We also lost in the state championship in 2000 and in 2001, but we finally achieved victory in 2002,” Seeker said.

Coming off a state championship run, Seeker was given a new opportunity, which was to become the Athletic Director for Tallmadge. However, he knew if he were to accept the offer he would have to give up coaching. Seeker talked to the Tallmadge Superintendent and made a deal. 

“I told the Superintendent that I would coach for one more year then walk away. That season Archbishop Hoban upset us. That loss still bothers me to this day twenty years later,” Seeker said.

Seeker would become the athletic director for Tallmadge after the loss. He would remain in that position for some time. Later a new path was taken, as Seeker became the Athletic Director for the Chippewa School District, however when looking for his new job, Seeker interviewed at a few other schools, including our own.

“So I actually interviewed to be the athletic director at Revere about ten years ago. I came home from the interview and told my wife that we would be moving to Revere. However, there was a new superintendent coming into Revere, so it just did not work out. I was that close to being here ten years ago,” Seeker said.

Fast forward ten years later, and Seeker is finally the Athletic Director for Revere. Revere High School Principal Andrew Peltz was a member of the committee that interviewed Seeker over the summer. Peltz summarized what Seeker brought to the table.

“His infectious personality [stood out the most]. He loves sports, but it’s more how he puts the student athletes first. Winning is important, but it’s not the most important thing to him,” Peltz said.

Seeker credits all the faculty and students for welcoming him with open arms. Since he knows that sports can leave an impact on students, Seeker does his best to support everyone from every sport.

“These first two months have been a lot of fun. I’m hoping as long as I am here, it continues to be fun. I’m trying to get to all the sporting events so each team knows their sport is as important to me as it is to them. I know the big sports get most of the attention, but it is vital to support all the sports,” Seeker said.

Supporting athletes is not anything new for Seeker. He has two children and both of them play baseball at the collegiate level. Sam Seeker is his youngest son, and he describes the relationship he has with his father.

“[My dad] raised me to be a good athlete and person, as well as to do the little things right. I think he has helped me a lot in life, like being humble, appreciative and hard working. Those characteristics go a long way, and I am forever thankful for him,” Seeker said.

Seeker concluded with the following statement regarding his life story. 

“It is crazy how life works. When I tell people my story, going from not making the team at age thirteen to signing a D1 baseball contract, then playing professional baseball, it is crazy,” Seeker said.

Seeker is approaching three months in the district and appreciates everyone for welcoming him with open arms. He also spoke of the student section, saying the group has done a “really good job” with sporting events. When Seeker is not working, he can be found cheering on his children as they compete at the collegiate level in baseball.