Tallassee was where he graduated in 1990. Now, Matt Coker is in his seventh year as THS principal.
"Time goes by quick," said Coker, whose daughter Grace will graduate with the Class of 2019 next spring.
"She was voted student body president this year. She's a majorette," Coker said. "Having daddy there as principal has helped, (but) she's made her own way."
Grace was recently recognized by Potential Magazine for excelling in talent and leadership. Like working with his own, Coker enjoys working with many of the sons and daughters of his former classmates as well.
"That's been the best part of being principal at Tallassee," he said. "Where I'm from and where I went to school, the kids that have come through have been the people that I've known. It's been fun to see them do some of same things that we did when we were in high school.
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"It's amazing the type of town that Tallassee is. Over the last 30 years we've had people come and go, but the majority of our people are people that have been here. Their grandparents were here. We just know them."
Many of those grandparents and great-grandparents have walked the halls of the high school that was built in 1929. Coker feels sentimental like many alumni about the hallowed grounds but looks forward to progress towards a new school.
"Before I got here, that was being talked about. It's exciting to think that could happen."
Phase one of the project will be a new performing arts center.
"It will be a great start for our community to have that facility. I'm excited about it. It'll be interesting to see when they do break ground."