Al Seither was a coach and a friend to multiple generations of Holy Cross students and athletes through a career that spanned more than 35 years. 
After graduating from Southeastern Louisiana University, Seither found his first job as an assistant football coach under legendary John Kalbacher in 1966. In 1971, Seither started one of the first cross-country high school programs in the area and remained head coach of that sport until 2001. 

Seither was also heavily involved in the school’s track and field program as head coach for multiple decades. 
Seither was a middle-distance runner in college, throughout his career, Seither learned to coach effectively at all the track and field events. In the ’70s he coached world-class pole vaulter Greg Duplantis, who achieved high school records in the events.

Seither coached best when building close relationships with his athletes. Never one to yell, he said his athletes understood to behave, train hard and make practices.
“They don’t have to be state or conference champions just as long as they understand what they’ve achieved for themselves,” Seither said. “They don’t have to have an Olympic time, just as long as they strive for their personal best.”

One of Seither’s best cross-country teams was in 1988. Although they fell just short of a state championship, the 1988 Cross Men won the district and metro titles on their way to first-place honors in 7 of 9 meets they participated in. The Tigers finished fifth in the state without star Brett Reagan, who was in training for the Olympics. Rocky Silva, another talented runner, was bothered by illness and not 100 percent at state. Seniors Al Horridge and Gene Cavalier were also key cogs for the Tigers.  
The Tigers also won the 11-AAAA district title in 1987. 

Seither retired from coaching in 2008 after a five-year stint at Loyola (NO) University as the school’s track and cross-country coach. 
In his first season at Loyola the women’s team placed first in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championship and qualified for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National meet.
In 2004, Seither helped the men's and women’s teams both achieve conference titles and send four individual runners to compete in the nationals. 

Seither and his wife Erin plan on spending more time with Erin, his wife of 39 years, and watching his four grandchildren as they grow up and compete in sports.