The National High School Coaches Association is pleased to announce that Seaholm High School girls cross country coach Jeff Devantier is the 2012 National Coach of the Year for girls cross country.

This past season, Devantier led the Lady Maples to a first-ever MHSAA Division I state team championship. Featuring three top 10 nationally ranked teams — including then Grosse Pointe South, Grosse Pointe Farms and Saline — the Division I team championship was the most competitive state championship in the nation.

While claiming the state team championship, Seaholm also claimed a share of the National Team Championship and finished the 2012 cross country season ranked No. 1 in the nation.

The NHSCA sponsors an Academic All American team as well as selects the National High School Coach and National High School Senior Athlete of the Year in 22 boys and girls sports. This group of talented coaches and athletes will be featured in the High School Sports Hall Of Fame Museum, located in Easton, PA.

While Devantier has been selected as National Coach of the Year for girls cross country, "official" recognition will be announced with the entire 2012-13 National Coach of the Year Class for 22 sports this coming spring.

The National High School Coaches Association was founded in 1989 and operates as a 501c3 non-profit organization under the IRS laws. The national office is located in Easton, Pennsylvania. The mission statement of the NHSCA is to provide leadership and support to the nation’s one million high school coaches and 10 million of high school athletes.