Morgan’s Bowman Returns to Maysville
SOUTH ZANESVILLE, OH
It’s a place he once called home, and after seven years away from Southtown, Chase Bowman is returning to the Maysville football program, but this time as the head coach.
A former assistant under outgoing head coach Craig Clarke, Bowman has spent the last seven year over at Morgan, the first six as a head coach. As the lead man for the Raiders, Bowman compiled a 19-41 overall record, which finished with two seasons above .500 in 2022 and 2023, resulting in postseason appearances out of McConnelsville. But one year as an assistant both in athletic administration and coaching reminded him what his true calling was.
“I didn’t see myself staying on the path that was moving away from coaching and towards administration. I’m meant to be a coach and when this job opened up, it made a lot of sense” said Bowman.
Now back in town with a chance to lead the Panthers program, Bowman has some big shoes to fill of a local legend who spend the last 13 years in charge of Maysville.
“Anytime someone has been in a position for that long, there’s a culture in place. I’m sure there will be some similarities in how we do things, but there will also be some differences.”
Even in Bowman’s time some 45 minutes southeast in McConnelsville, the lessons he learned from his friend and former colleague never left him.
“I have a ton of respect and gratitude for Craig. He gave me a shot as a young coach and was a great role model as a teacher of the game as well as how he developed relationships with kids.”
Even with Clarke hanging up the headset after over 30 years of coaching, his wisdom will always be there for Bowman, specifically one key piece of advice as Bowman takes on a new challenge back where he once roamed the sidelines several years ago.
“He told he he will offer advice on anything that I ask him about, but he didn’t want to offer unsolicited advice. That’s one thing I’ve always liked about his style, he’s always there if you need him but he doesn’t want to be overbearing.”
Bowman takes the reins of a Panthers team that finished the 2024 season with a 4-6 record, missing the postseason for the fourth straight season, but does have a talented group of rising seniors that could play key roles for Maysville this season in the MVL small school division.
“Big picture, we want to be a program that is consistently in the picture at the top of the MVL and competing in the playoffs. However, our daily focus is on ‘Chasing Our Best’. Everyday we want to be the best version of ourselves and ‘Our Best’ should be constantly improving”, Bowman proclaims.
“If we are able to do that on a consistent basis, the results take care of themselves.”
