About Jamie Seitz
Jamie’s dedication to his students, athletes, and community was unwavering, illuminating the path for countless individuals with his warmth, wisdom, and genuine care.
Coach Jamie Seitz
In the heart of Denver, North Carolina, within the vibrant halls of Lincoln Charter School, Coach Jamie Seitz was more than a teacher; he was a beacon of guidance, an inspiring mentor, and a cherished friend. Jamie’s dedication to his students, athletes, and community was unwavering, illuminating the path for countless individuals with his warmth, wisdom, and genuine care.
Seitz was head basketball coach for six years at Lincoln Charter School, guiding the Eagles to the school’s first basketball conference championship. After taking a year off from coaching, he returned as an assistant coach and was instrumental in the Eagles’ current run of six consecutive conference titles. Included in that run was the school’s first-ever team state crown in 2017. That same year, he was head coach of the Eagles’ state championship golf team.
Lifelong Buffalo Bills Fan
His easy smile and upbeat attitude while teaching at Lincoln Charter Elementary School endeared him to the students, who were called to rapt attention daily by repeating Seitz’s favorite chant: “Let’s Go Buffalo.” Seitz grew up in a sports-oriented family and was a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan.
Jamie’s enthusiasm for the Bills went beyond the thrill of the game; it was a reflection of his approach to life—celebrating victories, learning from losses, and always, always moving forward with optimism and strength. Remembering Jamie means recognizing how his favorite team’s ethos of camaraderie and perseverance influenced his approach to teaching, coaching, and inspiring those around him to shine their light, just as brightly.
Shine the Light
December 2020 marked a profound loss for our community as we said goodbye to Jamie, a victim of COVID-19. His departure left an indelible void, but in the midst of our grief, a powerful theme emerged from his funeral: “Shine the Light.” This theme, a testament to Jamie’s own way of living, inspired us to ensure his legacy endures, casting a perpetual light on the paths of future generations.
Jamie was a remarkable soul, whose roles as a coach, teacher, husband, father, and son were imbued with an extraordinary passion for life and an unshakeable dedication to uplifting others. His ability to connect, to bring out the best in everyone he encountered, and to face each day with optimism and kindness, was a gift to us all.
A Hero in his Community
Seitz wasn’t just a star on the athletic field, he was a hero to his family, and in his community, too. He earned a medal for heroism from the Carnegie Hero Fund in 1999 after saving a young woman and her son from a knife attack in Corning, New York. It’s something he rarely spoke about.
Coach. Teacher. Husband. Father. Son
The Scholarship
Moved by Jamie’s enduring impact, his wife Liz, alongside a devoted group of Jamie’s friends and colleagues, founded a scholarship in his honor. This initiative, born of love and loss, aims to encapsulate Jamie’s spirit and his profound belief in the potential of every student. Our nonprofit organization emerged as a conduit for this mission, dedicated to raising funds to support this noble cause.
News Articles
'So Bright And So Big': Remembering Teacher And Coach Jamie Seitz
“Jamie Seitz taught physical education for 25 years, mostly at the Lincoln Charter School in Denver, North Carolina. He coached boys’ basketball and golf, and earlier in his career, had coached girls’ volleyball.”
Beloved NC coach and teacher dies of COVID at 51, and a school mourns
“Every time I saw him at Lincoln Charter School in Denver — where he had been a beloved elementary school PE teacher and high school coach since 2009 — Seitz would smile and ask me, “Everything going OK?”
Beloved teacher & Bills fan dies of COVID “He was loved every where"
“The COVID death of a physical education teacher and coach in North Carolina has a far reaching impact back in Western New York.”
Lincoln Charter School Mourns Teacher's Death Amid COVID-19
“Seitz didn’t have just one title. A husband, father, dedicated teacher and coach, but also a friend to many. Coach Seitz and his family have been a part of Lincoln Charter since 2009, the school says.”
Lincoln Charter announces second Hall of Fame class
“The Lincoln Charter School athletic department has announced its second Hall of Fame class – including Seitz, who coached basketball, golf, was also a beloved elementary physical education (PE) teacher.”
‘His life was a true blessing.’ Beloved teacher & Bills fan dies of COVID
“The Lincoln county community has shown an outpour of support and prayers for the Seitz family. Many tell WBTV, Seitz was that ‘coach or teacher that left an imprint on your school days.’