Detroit, MI - The Detroit Lions have named Jim DeWald of Birmingham Seaholm High School the week two recipient of the 2025 Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Week Program, presented by Carhartt. DeWald's Maples defeated Auburn Hills Avondale 44-6 to move to 2-0 on the season. With the victory, DeWald becomes the winningest football coach in Birmingham Seaholm history. On Friday, September 12th, Seaholm goes on the road to Bloomfield Hills to take on the Blackhawks for the 6th matchup all-time between these two programs.
DeWald is in his 24th season coaching high school football and in his 14th season as head coach at Seaholm, having accumulated a 76-56 (57.6%) overall. Prior to Seaholm, DeWald was the head coach at Bloomfield Hills Andover High School for 3 seasons, coached at Pontiac Northern High School and started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Western Michigan University, his alma mater.
Detroit Lions Football Education sat down with DeWald to discuss the historic week 2 victory and what it means to him personally, how the Maples are preparing for Week 3 and the rest of their upcoming OAA Blue schedule, and the meaning behind the program's team motto. DeWald was also informed of his Coach of the Week selection on Head Coach Hangout. See his reaction and the entire interview by visiting www.DetroitLions.com/coachoftheweek.
High School Football Coach of the Week Program
Each week throughout the 2025 high school football regular season, one coach that best demonstrates success on the field, develops players' character, discipline, and football skill in addition to emphasizing player health and safety in their program will be recognized for their commitment to the team, school, and community. The winner is selected by a panel of high school football media members—Mick McCabe (retired Detroit Free Press writer), Hugh Bernreuter (Saginaw News), Bret Bakita (WOOD Radio-106.9 FM, 96.1 FM- The Game, Fox 17/Grand Rapids), James Cook (Traverse City Record-Eagle) and Scott DeCamp (DeCamp Creative Solutions).
This season's program will award $12,000 to aid in the development and promotion of high school football in the state of Michigan, thanks to contributions from the Detroit Lions, the NFL Foundation and Carhartt.
Each winning coach during the regular season will receive a $1,000 donation to his school's football program. At the conclusion of the 2025 Michigan High School Football season, the Lions will also select the High School Football Coach of the Year. This season's Coach of the Year will receive a $3,000 donation to his school's football program. All winners will receive a certificate signed by Lions' head coach Dan Campbell and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Currently in its' 29th year, the Detroit Lions High School Coach of the Week program has awarded $515,000 to high school football programs throughout the state of Michigan. For more information on the High School Coach of the Week program, contact Chris Fritzsching, Lions' Executive Director of Football Education, at chris.fritzsching@lions.nfl.net.
