Beloved coach, teacher killed in Wilton accident -- Monadnock Ledger-Transcript (by Tony Marquis)
'He will always be a part of us': Peterborough coach, teacher remembered for devotion -- Keene Sentinel (by Michael M. McMahon and Crae Messer)
Merrimack High School teacher killed, 1 seriously hurt in crash -- WMUR Manchester (by KC Downey)
Merrimack mourning high school teacher killed in Wilton crash -- Union Leader (by Kimberly Houghton)

Click here for the University's Statement from Dr. Kim Mooney, President.

Franklin Pierce University mourns the loss of sprint football assistant coach Nick Seymour, who tragically passed away as the result of a car accident on the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017.

Described by those who knew him best as a gentle, passionate, dedicated and devoted coach and family man who made those around him better, Seymour had a lengthy and meaningful relationship with the local community. A product of ConVal High School and later a 2010 graduate of Keene State University, he returned to ConVal for eight years as an assistant football coach before joining the Ravens staff, where he was responsible for working with the team's defensive backs. Seymour was also the point person for the team's first big community service project this fall, as he spearheaded the effort to get the team over to assist with clean-up efforts at Monadnock Adult Care.

Seymour had recently been hired by Merrimack High School, where he began work this year as a social studies teacher. He had previously held teaching positions at Mascenic High School, South Meadow Middle School and ConVal.

We present this page as a memorial to coach Seymour, to the impact he had on our student-athletes and staff, to his contributions to our campus, and to his involvement in the greater Monadnock community.

Details regarding memorial services will be added to this page as they become available.

Nick Seymour is survived by his wife, Leah, and their two children.

In Their Own Words

Members of the Franklin Pierce and greater Monadnock communities are invited to share their thoughts and memories of coach Seymour. To submit your contributions for inclusion, please contact Matt Janik, Director of Athletic Communication (janikm@franklinpierce.edu).

Dr. Kim Mooney (President -- Franklin Pierce University)
"Nick was a widely respected and well-liked member of our university community.  Our deepest condolences and thoughts are with his wife, children and entire family at this difficult time."

***For President Mooney's full statement to the University community, please click here.

Rachel Burleson (Director of Athletics -- Franklin Pierce University)
"This is a huge loss to Nick’s family and friends, to the student athletes who benefited from his commitment to good coaching and sportsmanship, and to all of us on campus who had the pleasure of working with him."

Rashad Watson (Head Sprint Football Coach -- Franklin Pierce University)
"Nick was a gentle, quiet worker, who loved coaching the game of football. He worked hard being a good coach, teacher, and more importantly, he expressed how much he loved his family, such as how he and his wife adored each other and their kids. I am especially grateful for his work to push our team to contribute to the local community, and appreciate his work organizing our community service involvement. I've only known him for a few months, but his impact will shine light on me for a lifetime. I will truly miss Nick, and to move on in this life without his friendship will be tough. He truly supported me, the team, and Franklin Pierce University as a whole." 

Bill O'Connell (Defensive Coordinator -- Franklin Pierce University)
"I have worked with Coach Seymour for the past four years at Franklin Pierce. We have been coaching on defense together for the last three years, as well as rooming together on road trips. Nick has been an outstanding coach to work with. His passion and dedication have been outstanding! Coach Seymour has always worked very hard to enable his players to maximize their abilities and opportunities. During these past three years I've enjoyed getting to know Nick. He was such a great family man, sharing stories of his wife and two kids. Nick will always have a special place in my memories of coaching."

Shawn DeCost (Assistant Sprint Football Coach -- Franklin Pierce University)
"Nick was a great coach and even better person, teacher, husband and father. He will be missed by many. I have had the pleasure of being coached by and coaching with Coach Seymour, and he has always been one my favorite and best coaches that I have had. I will never forget his reactions and his words after a big double-overtime win, and when we went down to Navy and beat them. Coach loved football more than words can begin to explain. He would always share some incredible stories, including players eating nachos during a game, and how his mother was always his biggest skeptic. I have been able to adopt many of Coach Seymour's strategies and tactics into my own coaching. He always pushed people to be the best player and person they could possibly be, and he is one hell of a role model. Rest peacefully Coach."

James Willette (Assistant Sprint Football Coach -- Franklin Pierce University)
"Couch Seymour was an awkwardly funny guy. He was always the guy who would throw out funny one-liners, or just had his own way of joking around with the kids. I call him "Coach" because the first few years that I knew him, I was playing for him. I have since had the pleasure of working with him as a graduate assistant coach on the defensive side of the ball for a season. With everything he had going on in his life, with his family, with teaching, and with football, he never once complained about having too much work. His free time from teaching and his family was spent doing everything he could for this football program and that hard work never went unnoticed. Coach Seymour without a doubt made me a better player and a better coach. Someday I hope to be as great a husband, father, and person as he was. Rest in the sweetest peace Coach. Once a Raven, Always a Raven. #MakeThemQuit"

Greg Leonard (Former Offensive Coordinator at FPU -- Former head coach at ConVal)
"I knew Nick from his freshman year at ConVal in Peterborough. He played football for Steve Bartsch, John Reitnauer (who also coached for FPU's football program). He was a defensive end, running back and tight end during his high school career and wore number 44. After his high school football career ended, I asked him to join me on the sideline as one of my assistant coaches. He coached at ConVal the entire time he was at Keene State. After graduating from Keene State he coached with me at ConVal while taking on his first Social Studies teaching job at Mascenic high school. Soon he moved to South Meadow Middle School in Peterborough and ConVal High School and was still coaching as a position coach on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball before becoming the offensive coordinator. Later he joined the staff at Franklin Pierce 3.5 years ago. 

Family was always central in his life. Values that were ingrained in him from his mom and dad, as he grew up in Antrim, were what make the bonds of his family strong. Those values served him well as he attended elementary and middle school in his hometown. Later, while he was attending high school he met is wife, Leah Stone. They graduated together. They lived in Peterborough and after marriage they were blessed with their two children.  Nick, Leah and the kids were always surrounded by their parents, Leah's sister's family, and grandparents.

Nick was a devoted son, son-in-law, husband, father, teacher, coach and friend. He had a big heart and shared many laughs with all that he came in contact with. He will be missed, but never forgotten."

Robert Huckins (Social Studies Department Chair -- Merrimack High School)
"Nick was hired last spring because of his wide-ranging and diverse skill set as a teacher. What we weren’t prepared for was how simply outstanding he was as a person. His presence was felt very quickly in our social studies department and he was universally well regarded by teachers and his students, all of whom have been deeply affected by his sudden passing. He demonstrated a keen talent for reaching all types of learners and kids, and displayed an unusually high level of professionalism. Nick will be sorely missed, plain and simple. He was already a family member here at Merrimack High School and we were only getting to scratch the surface on what he would have undoubtedly brought to our school and community. Our most sincere condolences go out to his wife, two children and those who knew him at Franklin Pierce University and Conval High School."

Zakeius Clerk (Assistant Sprint Football Coach -- Franklin Pierce University)
"With football, Coach Seymour brought positive energy every single day to practice. For the few months I have known him, it felt like I knew him for years. My favorite memory is him dancing with the defensive backs and showing them how to do a Michal Jackson dance during our team dinner. As a whole coaching staff, Nick will be missed dearly, but the moments we shared in such a little time will live on forever."

Matt George (Offensive Coordinator -- Franklin Pierce University)
"My favorite interaction with coach Seymour was our first interaction. While moving into my apartment, I 'pocket disliked' a message from coach Watson. Immediately, I received a text message from Nick, asking who I was. I didn't even know his last name at that point. He got on me for being disloyal. The next Monday, I told coach Watson that Nick was all-in, and he did not have to worry about his loyalty to the program on this new staff. The box will feel empty without you, coach."