Rush Propst

Propst, who is of German descent, is a native of Ohatchee, Alabama where he graduated from Ohatchee High School in 1976. Propst played high school football for Coach Ragan Clark, whose son Bill was later the head coach at Prattville High School, a Hoover rival, for many years. Ohatchee was 27–5–1 in Propst's three years as a starter at wide receiver and defensive back, with Propst earning All-County recognition as a senior. In addition to football, he was a two-year starter on the basketball team and even though Ohatchee did not have a track program, he checked out of school one afternoon and won the District 100-yard dash his senior year.

Propst attended college at Jacksonville State University (JSU) where he was a non-scholarship member of the JSU football team in 1976–1977. He graduated from Jacksonville State in 1981 with a degree in Physical Education. In 1990, he married Tammy Cox, his high school sweetheart, with whom he had three children. Propst divorced Tammy in 2008 and married his current wife, Stefnie, with whom he has four children.{{citation|last=Sentell|first=Jeff|title=Homecoming game: Rush Propst and Colquitt County to face Hoover on Friday|publisher=AL.com|date=August 24, 2013|url=http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/08/homecoming_rush_propst_brings.html#incart_flyout_sports}}{{citation|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1891&dat=19900311&id=dasfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ntYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2813,1202572&hl=en|title=Cox-Propst|work=Gadsden Times|date=March 11, 1990|page=D2}}

Ralph Clyde "Shorty" Propst, who was born in 1924 and played for the Alabama Crimson Tide, is his uncle.

Propst took his first coaching position as a student assistant at Ohatchee in 1977, the year they won their only state championship. His brother, Philip was a star on that team. He also served as an assistant coach for eight years at Cleburne County High School in Heflin, Alabama, Cherokee High School in Canton, Georgia, and Ashville High School in Ashville, Alabama. Propst was eventually promoted to head football coach at Ashville High, serving from 1989 to 1993. He then moved on to Eufaula High School in Eufaula, Alabama from 1994 to 1996 before being hired by Alba High School in Bayou La Batre, Alabama in 1997. In 1998, Propst coached Alma Bryant High School, the school that resulted from Alba's merger with the high school in Grand Bay, Alabama. At Alma Bryant he amassed a 12–2 record.

He was hired at Hoover in 1999, where he coached for nine years, winning 110 games and five state championships. Propst's Hoover team was one of the top-ranked teams in the United States over much of the first decade of the new millennium, winning Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 6A state championships in five of the first six seasons including four consecutive titles from 2002 to 2005 (missing out on 6 straight after losses in the championship game to Daphne in 2001 and Prattville in 2006).{{cite web|url=http://www.ahsaa.com/Sports/Football/History/FootballPastStateChampions/tabid/375/Default.aspx|publisher=Alabama High School Athletic Association|title=Football Past State Champions|accessdate=January 22, 2009}} During Propst's tenure, Hoover was repeatedly ranked in the nation's top-25 polls, finishing as the #16 team in the nation in 2003,{{cite web|url=http://www.prepnation.com/poll/poll.cfm?poll=1&year=2003&week=18 |title=prepnation.com |publisher=prepnation.com |date= |accessdate=August 22, 2017}} #4 in the nation in 2004,{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/football/poll/2004-super25.htm | work=USA Today | title=Super 25 football rankings | date=May 20, 2005 | accessdate=May 23, 2010}} #8 in the nation in 2005,{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/football/poll/2005-super25.htm | work=USA Today | title=Final 2005 Super 25 football rankings | date=December 20, 2005 | accessdate=May 23, 2010}} and ranked #1 entering the 2006 season by Sports Illustrated, USA Today{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/football/poll/2006-super25.htm | work=USA Today | title=Super 25 champ crowned | date=January 12, 2007 | accessdate=May 23, 2010}} and the National Prep Football Poll.{{cite web|url=http://www.prepnation.com/poll/poll.cfm?poll=1&year=2006&week=1 |title=prepnation.com |publisher=prepnation.com |date= |accessdate=August 22, 2017}} Propst's base salary at Hoover was $100,678.{{cite news|url=http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2008/01/hoovers_rush_propst_gets_head.html|title=Hoover's Rush Propst gets head football coaching job at Georgia high school|newspaper=The Birmingham News|date=January 30, 2008|last=Solomon|first=Jon}}

On January 30, 2008, Propst was named head coach at Colquitt County High School. When Les Koenning left the University of South Alabama in January 2009, head coach Joey Jones interviewed Propst to fill the vacant position as the offensive coordinator.{{cite news|url=http://www.al.com/usa/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/sports/1232187337208260.xml&coll=3|last=Herndon|first=Mike|newspaper=Press-Register|title=Rush Propst, Hal Mumme off USA list|date=January 17, 2009|access-date=April 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927020608/http://www.al.com/usa/mobileregister/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fsports%2F1232187337208260.xml&coll=3|archive-date=September 27, 2012|url-status=dead}} After community uproar over the interview, Propst decided to stay at Colquitt County.{{cite news|url=http://www.moultrieobserver.com/local/local_story_009234344.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904041129/http://www.moultrieobserver.com/local/local_story_009234344.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 4, 2012|last=Grandy|first=Wayne|newspaper=The Moultrie Observer|title=Propst considers college job, chooses to stay at CCHS|date=January 9, 2009}}

In just his second year of coaching at Colquitt County, Propst took a team that had finished 2–8 in 2007 to an 11–3 season and the state semifinals in 2009.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/sports/05propst.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&ref=sports&adxnnlx=1225919457-uLQ0U13oOKyEVIAKH85iYw|last=Tierney|first=Mike|newspaper=The New York Times|title=High School Football Coach Relishes His Second Chance|date=November 4, 2008}}{{cite news|url=http://www.moultrieobserver.com/sports/local_story_344225814.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907174933/http://www.moultrieobserver.com/sports/local_story_344225814.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 7, 2012|last=Grandy|first=Wayne|newspaper=The Moultrie Observer|title=State championship games begin today|date=December 10, 2009}} In 2010, he led Colquitt County to the GHSA Class 5A State Championship Game.{{cite web|url=http://www.maxpreps.com/tournament/CQpDA-dqEd-YiQAcxJSkrA/vw4iyudqEd-YiQAcxJSkrA/football-fall-10/2010-georgia-high-school-football-state-championship-class-aaaaa.htm|title=2010 Georgia High School Football State Championship Bracket}} In 2011, Colquitt finished 11–3 after losing 35–31 to the eventual state champions, Grayson High School, in the state semifinal game.{{cite web|url=http://www.maxpreps.com/tournament/WTcG7gTTEeG-rAAmVebEWg/VaV0hQTUEeG-rAAmVebEWg/football-fall-11/2011-georgia-boys-state-football-playoff-bracket--ghsa-class-aaaaa.htm|title=2011 Georgia Boys State Football Playoff Bracket: GHSA Class AAAAA}} In 2012, Colquitt finished 10–4 after losing 41–27 to the eventual state champions, Norcross High School, in the state semifinal game.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-high-school-sports/2012/12/07/norcross-41-colquitt-county-27/|title=Norcross 41, Colquitt County 27|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102191748/http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-high-school-sports/2012/12/07/norcross-41-colquitt-county-27/|archivedate=January 2, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/georgia-high-school-football-champions-2012/nTXWN/|title=Norcross rallies to win state high school football championship}} In 2013, Colquitt finished 11–3 after losing 14–9 to the eventual state champions, Norcross High School, in the state semifinal game.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-high-school-sports/2013/12/06/norcross-14-colquitt-county-9/|title=Norcross 14, Colquitt County 9|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102190746/http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-high-school-sports/2013/12/06/norcross-14-colquitt-county-9/|archivedate=January 2, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/high-school-football/three-teams-win-their-first-state-championships/ncLpK/|title=Three teams win their first state championships}} In 2014, Rush Propst led his Colquitt County Packer football team to their second undefeated season (15–0) and a second state title (first one came in 1994), by defeating Archer High School 28–24 on December 13, 2014, to claim the 2014 1-AAAAAA State Championship and his first state title within Georgia. In 2015, Colquitt County completed another 15–0 season with a 30–13 victory over the Roswell Hornets to claim their second consecutive Georgia AAAAAA State Championship. Propst was relieved of coaching duties following the 2018 season. He spent a year as a volunteer assistant coach at UAB.

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During his tenure at Hoover, Propst was a frequent target of critics. But in June 2007, the criticism became more vocal and more formal when HHS athletic director Jerry Browning, Propst's immediate superior, resigned over numerous differences between himself and principal Richard Bishop, who was a teammate of Propst on the football team at Jacksonville State University. Browning expressed concerns over reports that grades for certain athletes had been altered to make them eligible for college play, and made those concerns known to Hoover City Schools Superintendent Andy Craig in a meeting in April.{{cite news|first=Kevin|last=Scarbinsky|url=http://www.al.com/birminghamnews/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports/1182674776207300.xml&coll=2|title=Hoover High may be own worst enemy|newspaper=The Birmingham News|date=June 24, 2007|access-date=April 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000915/http://www.al.com/birminghamnews/stories/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fsports%2F1182674776207300.xml&coll=2|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}} Bishop originally announced that there was nothing to be concerned about, but Craig overruled Bishop and announced that a full investigation would be carried out, to be headed by former federal judge Sam C. Pointer, Jr.{{cite news|url=http://www.al.com/birminghamnews/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports/118284656089550.xml&coll=2|last=Stock|first=Erin|author2=Jon Solomon|newspaper=The Birmingham News|title=No promises in Hoover probe|date=June 26, 2007|access-date=April 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001124/http://www.al.com/birminghamnews/stories/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fsports%2F118284656089550.xml&coll=2|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.al.com/birminghamnews/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports/1182586977122600.xml&coll=2|last=Stock|first=Erin|author2=Jon Solomon|newspaper=The Birmingham News|title=Superintendent pledges independent probe|date=June 23, 2007|access-date=April 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000652/http://www.al.com/birminghamnews/stories/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fsports%2F1182586977122600.xml&coll=2|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}

Propst also faced charges having to do with his personal life, specifically that he engaged in extramarital affairs. The topic was the focus of considerable discussion on the Paul Finebaum syndicated sports talk radio show, where Hunter Ford, a reporter for The Hoover Gazette newspaper, reported the rumors. During those discussions, Ford was fired, live and on the air, by Gazette general manager John Junkin. (Ironically, Ford had previously advocated in a Gazette column that Propst be hired to fill the then-vacant head coach position at the University of Alabama at Birmingham). The Gazette went out of business about five weeks later.

Ford, was then hired by editor Dale Jones of The Western Star in nearby Bessemer, after his firing from The Hoover Gazette. In his column in the edition of July 4, 2007, of The Western Star, Ford reported that a number of sources, none of which would allow their name to be used, said that Propst's alleged affair also included a child born out of wedlock. The following week, Tribble Publications in Warm Springs, Georgia, the parent company who owns The Western Star, printed an apology for allowing Ford to print these allegations in their paper, though it did not specifically retract the charges. Jones insisted that the apology was unwarranted, saying that Ford's story was solid and that the evidence was irrefutable. Propst continued to deny the allegations.

But on July 28, 2007, The Birmingham News went public with the allegations when it published a letter from attorneys for Bishop to the Hoover Board of Education.{{Cite web |url=http://blog.al.com/bn/2007/07/1362_001.pdf |title=Letter from attorneys for Richard Bishop to the Hoover Board of Education, reprinted by The Birmingham News and al.com, July 28, 2007 |access-date=July 28, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930033342/http://blog.al.com/bn/2007/07/1362_001.pdf |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |url-status=dead }} The letter was a result of the board voting to not renew Bishop's contract as principal, an act which garnered widespread coverage by local news media. In the letter by Bishop's attorneys, which The News obtained through a public-records request, the attorneys state that Browning told Bishop that Propst "had a separate family and led a completely separate life," and that Bishop was told by Craig not to investigate the matter.

Pointer completed his investigation in late September, and after considerable debate over several sessions (and public pressure from numerous public figures, including Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos), the Hoover Board of Education voted 4–1 to release the report through several sources.{{cite news|url=http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2007/10/hoover_board_to_release_full_r.html|last=Stock|first=Erin|author2=Jon Solomon |newspaper=The Birmingham News|title=Hoover board to release full report|date=October 11, 2007}} Among the findings were that Propst's bank records indicated support for a "second family" in Pell City, Alabama, but the incidents regarding grade-changing were largely caused by an assistant principal and an administrator.{{cite news|url=http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2007/10/questions_answers_in_hoover.html|last=Solomon|first=Jon|newspaper=The Birmingham News|title=Questions, answers in Hoover|date=October 14, 2007}}

Propst came under further scrutiny when Hanceville High School complained to the Alabama High School Athletic Association that a former player of theirs, Tristan Purifoy, did not transfer properly to Hoover High and was therefore ineligible. On October 23, 2007, the AHSAA ruled that Purifoy was indeed ineligible, and that the Bucs would have to forfeit all games in which Purifoy played. The investigation resulted in the forfeiture of four games, including a 1–0 loss to crosstown rival Spain Park High School, the first loss to the Jaguars in the history of the teams' rivalry. Purifoy was reinstated by the AHSAA during the playoffs that same year.{{cite news|url=http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2007/10/hoover_must_forfeit_games_due.html|title=Hoover must forfeit games due to ineligible player|newspaper=The Birmingham News|last=Solomon|first=Jon|date=October 23, 2007}}{{cite news|url=http://www.al.com/sports/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/1192695715114490.xml&coll=2|title=AHSAA Probes Player's Status|newspaper=The Birmingham News|last=Steinbauer|first=Peter|date=October 18, 2007|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117034018/http://www.al.com/sports/birminghamnews/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fsports%2F1192695715114490.xml&coll=2|archivedate=November 17, 2007}} Despite the forfeits, the Bucs finished the regular season with a 4–5 record and qualified for the AHSAA 6A playoffs. However, in Propst's last game as Hoover's head coach, they lost in the third round to another crosstown rival, Vestavia Hills, 21–17, a game considered by many Alabama sportswriters to be the biggest rivalry in the state. His team finished the season with an on-field record of 10–2 (6–6 including the four forfeit losses).{{cite news|url=http://www.al.com/sports/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/119624198313320.xml&coll=2|title=Propst era ends with legacy of winning|newspaper=The Birmingham News|last=Steinbauer|first=Peter|date=November 28, 2007}}{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

At a special meeting of the Hoover Board of Education on October 30, 2007, Propst announced that he would resign, but would continue to coach the team as far as they progress in the 2007 playoffs. In a 30-minute address to the board and a large crowd inside the board chambers, Propst tearfully admitted to a relationship outside his marriage and a child as a result of that relationship, but no other wrongdoing. "I am remorseful for what I have done. I have failed you as a community. I have failed you as a board, and especially I have failed you (Superintendent) Andy (Craig)," Propst said. "I made mistakes. I could have done things differently, but I don't admit wrongdoing inside the walls of Hoover High School."{{cite news|url=http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2007/10/rush_propst_resigns_but_will_c.html|title=Rush Propst resigns but will coach through end of playoffs|newspaper=The Birmingham News|first=Jon|last=Solomon|author2=Erin Stock |date=October 30, 2007}}{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/football/2007-10-30-hoover_N.htm|newspaper=USA Today|title=Hoover (Ala.) High coach agrees to step down|last=Halley|first=Jim|date=October 30, 2007}}

In June 2016, the Georgia Professional Standards Commission announced that Propst would be suspended for the entire 2016 season after head-butting one of his players (and bloodying himself) during a December 4, 2015 playoff game.{{cite web|url=http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2016/06/rush_propst_suspended_for_year.html |title=Rush Propst suspended a year for head-butting own player in this video, will appeal |publisher=AL.com |date= June 16, 2016|accessdate=August 22, 2017}} He appealed {{cite web |url=http://highschoolsports.blog.ajc.com/2016/06/16/colquitt-county-coach-propst-suspended-for-year-by-ga-professional-standards-commission/ |title=Colquitt County coach Propst appeals one-year suspension | Prep Zone: High School Sports blog |publisher=Highschoolsports.blog.ajc.com |date=June 17, 2016 |accessdate=August 22, 2017 |archive-date=August 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822223557/http://highschoolsports.blog.ajc.com/2016/06/16/colquitt-county-coach-propst-suspended-for-year-by-ga-professional-standards-commission/ |url-status=dead }} and was instead given a reprimand.{{cite web|last=Wallace |first=Jake |url=http://www.walb.com/story/32447276/propst-suspension-dropped-will-receive-reprimand |title=Propst suspension dropped, will receive reprimand - WALB.com, South Georgia News, Weather, Sports |publisher=Walb.com |date= July 14, 2016|accessdate=August 22, 2017}}

On March 14, 2019, Propst was relieved of his duties as the high school's head football coach in a unanimous vote by the Colquitt County Board of Education.{{cite web |last=Brown |first=Matthew |url=https://www.moultrieobserver.com/news/local_news/school-board-relieves-propst-of-coaching-duties/article_6da8de9c-46b5-11e9-842b-47249464159e.html |title=School board relieves Propst of coaching duties |publisher=Moultrie Observer |date= March 14, 2019|accessdate=March 16, 2019}} His dismissal followed an investigation that determined he had violated the Code of Ethics for Educators for (1) legal compliance, (2) conduct with students, (3) honesty, and (4) public funds and property, including giving Aleve pills to students “on more than one occasion” and owing nearly $450,000 in delinquent federal and state taxes.{{cite web |last=Grandy |first=Wayne |url=https://www.moultrieobserver.com/news/ga_fl_news/propst-investigation-cites-pill-incidents-dishonesty-insubordination/article_4233d5b8-476a-11e9-80b1-973b1c7e343d.html |title=Propst investigation cites pill incidents, dishonesty, insubordination |publisher=Moultrie Observer |date= March 15, 2019|accessdate=March 16, 2019}} The PSC investigation into Propst (case February 19, 1025) was settled with a 131-day suspension.{{ cite web |title=MINUTES Georgia Professional Standards Commission |url=https://www.gapsc.com/Commission/CommissionInfo/Minutes/March_2020.pdf |date=March 12, 2020 |accessdate=August 10, 2020 }} In In March 2020, Rush Propst was cleared of all the accusations of wrongdoing advanced by the Colquitt County Superintendent Doug Howell and had his Georgia teaching certificate reinstated. Howell announced his resignation in the months ahead.{{Cite web |date=2020-03-13 |title=Rush Propst vindicated on wrongful termination at Colquitt County |url=https://volswire.usatoday.com/2020/03/12/rush-propst-vindicated-on-wrongful-termination-at-colquitt-county/ |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=Vols Wire |language=en-US}}

On April 8, 2021, the Valdosta High School football team was sanctioned due to recruiting and undue influence committed by Propst and the Valdosta booster club. Five players were declared ineligible for the athletic year, along with $5,000 in fines. The Valdosta football team was also placed on probation for the 2021 football season, therefore preventing them from participating in any playoff games. Any games that the five players played in were forfeited.{{Cite web|last=Keel|first=Fletcher|title=Valdosta football barred from 2021 playoffs, fined $7,500, four players ruled ineligible|url=https://www.wctv.tv/2021/04/13/valdosta-football-barred-from-2021-playoffs-will-forfeit-games-from-2020/|access-date=April 14, 2021|website=www.wctv.tv|date=April 13, 2021 |language=en}}{{Cite web|title=VHS Penalty Letter 2021|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/502741188/VHS-Penalty-Letter-2021|access-date=April 14, 2021|website=Scribd|language=en}}

On April 24, 2024, the Pell City Board of Education called a special meeting to vote on terminating Propst's contract. However, no vote was taken as no member of the board seconded the motion.{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Ben |last2=Dudley |first2=Evan |title=Rush Propst remains Pell City football coach after heated school board meeting |url=https://www.al.com/highschoolsports/2024/04/pell-city-board-votes-to-fire-football-coach-rush-propst-after-one-season-with-panthers.html |publisher=AL.COM |access-date=June 15, 2024 |date=April 24, 2024}}

On May 3, 2024, Rush Propst announced his resignation as Pell City's head football coach.{{cite web |last1=Batchelor |first1=Brett |title=Rush Propst announces resignation as Pell City football coach |url=https://www.wbrc.com/2024/05/04/rush-propst-announces-resignation-pell-city-football-coach |publisher=WBRC |access-date=June 15, 2024 |date=May 3, 2024}}

During the 2019 football season, Propst co-hosted Tennessee Two-A-Days, a radio show on Fox Sports Knoxville.

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080118205130/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/2_a_days/cast_member/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=8162 Official MTV bio]
• [http://www.bhamwiki.com/w/Rush_Propst Bhamwiki article]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071025194557/http://www2.hoover.k12.al.us/Documents/FinalReport.pdf The Pointer Report] (official report of investigation into grade-changing charges)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Propst, Rush}}

Category:1958 births

Category:Living people

Category:Jacksonville State Gamecocks football players

Category:High school football coaches in Alabama

Category:High school football coaches in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:Sportspeople from Hoover, Alabama

Category:People from Calhoun County, Alabama