WINTERSVILLE — A familiar face will return to Indian Creek High School this fall, this time in a leadership role.

The Indian Creek Local School District has named Matt Cowser assistant principal at Indian Creek High School. Cowser, a 2010 Indian Creek graduate, will replace Keith Swearingen, who is moving to Indian Creek Middle School as principal.

For Cowser, the appointment marks a return to the school where he once walked the halls as a student and where his father, Stephen Cowser, served as both assistant principal and principal. Stephen Cowser currently serves as president of the Indian Creek Local Board of Education.

Cowser earned his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from West Liberty University in 2015 after attending Heidelberg University for two years. He later obtained his principal’s licensure from Franciscan University.

His career began in Fairfax County, Va., where he taught elementary physical education at a school with more than 1,000 students. He later returned to the Ohio Valley and taught at Indian Creek Middle School for four years before joining Harrison Central Jr./Sr. High School. There, he taught weight training and athletic training for four years, including three years at the junior high school and one year at the high school.

Cowser and his wife, Laura, are the parents of an 8-month-old son, Callen.

While Indian Creek High School has changed since his student days, including the construction of a new facility on the Wintersville campus, Cowser said he still carries fond memories of his time there.

“I feel like I’m ready. I want to give the same opportunities to students and families that I had given to me. I’m taking [my father’s former] position and I want to be able to help the community the best that I can. It really is full circle,” he said. “My sister once told me how much I enjoyed coaching and working with kids, and that inspired me to become a teacher. As a teacher, you work with kids, but as an administrator you do so much more and it’s a great opportunity.”

Cowser said one of his goals will be addressing chronic absenteeism and improving student attendance.

Although he officially begins his new position on July 1, he has already started becoming familiar with the school’s operations and reconnecting with district leaders, many of whom influenced him during his own education.

“I’ve also grown up with these people in my life and I’m super excited to work with them. These are some of the people who gave me an opportunity to go out in the world and come back to give students the same opportunities,” Cowser said.

District administrators said they are pleased to welcome him to the leadership team.

“We are excited to have Mr. Cowser join our ICHS team,” Principal Louie Retton said. “He will be a great addition.”

“We welcome Matt as the assistant principal at ICHS,” Superintendent Dr. T.C. Chappelear said. “He will be a valuable part of our administration.”