JEFFERSON TWP — For Kurt Reiser, it’s a chance to go home and take care of business.

Reiser, 45, was hired as Knoch High School athletic director Wednesday night. He will replace Mike King, who is resigning the position after four years.

King will continue to serve as Knoch’s head varsity football coach.

A 1989 Knoch graduate, Reiser had been head football coach at Thiel College for the past seven seasons and a member of the Tomcats coaching staff since 2001.

He was an assistant coach on the 2005 Thiel team that won the Presidents’ Athletic Conference and participated in the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time in the program’s history.

“This is my home and I care about that athletic program a great deal,” Reiser said of Knoch. “This is an exciting time for the district.

“There has been a lot of growth in the northern region of Pittsburgh ... Pine-Richland and Mars have benefitted from that and Knoch may do so as well. I want to have a strong athletic program, one the community and the athletes will be proud of.”

Reiser’s starting date has not been named. There will be a transitional period with he and King.

“Mike is a good friend of mine who has helped me through this entire process,” Reiser said. “I look forward to working with him and learning as much from him as possible before he leaves.

“When I coached at Thiel, we recruited Knoch quite a bit and I got to know Mike very well.”

There were 120 applicants for the athletic director position and 15 were interviewed.

“Kurt has a passion for Knoch athletics and he’s a tremendous organizer,” King said. “His administrative experience from being a head football coach in college will benefit him here.

“He is a leader, a guy who can take charge. Our athletic program will be in good hands.”

King said it is “highly likely” Reiser will take over as athletic director before the current school year is finished.

Reiser has a nephew, Kyle, who played football and basketball for the Knights. His niece, Nicole, played girls basketball at Knoch.

“My family has been deeply involved with the school,” he said.

Reiser and Knoch principal Todd Trofimuk were high school football teammates at Knoch.

“The administrative personnel there are good people,” Reiser said. “I look forward to working with them.”