Rush Propst resigns from Pell City High School football team

PELL CITY, Ala. ( WIAT ) — Pell City High School head football Rush Propst announced he submitted his resignation to the Pell City School System on Friday.

In a press release Propst posted on his personal X account , Propst stated he will no longer be the head coach at the high school, effective Friday. He went 1-9 in his lone season as the Panthers’ head coach.

Propst was almost dismissed from Pell City High School when Pell City Schools Superintendent Dr. James Martin made a non-renewal motion on Propst and called for a special board meeting to take place on April 24. The Pell City School Board of Education did not vote on the non-renewal motion, allowing Propst to remain as head coach at the time. It’s unclear why the non-renewal motion was issued.

Propst, who served as the head coach at Hoover High School from 1999-2007, won five national championships with the Buccaneers. He resigned from that post after allegations and an investigation discovered he was supporting a second family.

He then took the helm at Colquitt County High School in Georgia from 2008-18. He won state titles for the Packers in 2014 and 2015 before getting caught up in controversy. He was suspended for the season in 2016 after head-butting a player during a contest. Propst repealed appealed, however, and received a reprimand instead. He was fired following the 2018 season after it was determined he violated several codes of ethics standards.

Propst served as a volunteer consultant at UAB before returning to Georgia to take over at Valdosta High School in 2020. He worked there for one season before being placed on administrative leave after allegations he recruited players and their families plus solicited money to pay for their living expenses. He was named the head coach at Pell City in March 2023.

Below is Propst’s statement regarding his resignation from the Pell City High School football team:

This afternoon I submitted my resignation form the Pell City School System. I will no longer be the Head Football Coach at Pell City High School effective today. To be absolutely clear, this decision was mine and mine alone. I believe that this is the best path for our team, my family, and the entire Pell City School System.

I am grateful to Dr. Martin and the Pell City Board of Education for the opportunity to serve as Head Football Coach at Pell City High School. There is no doubt that this has been a difficult year. We have fought through difficult circumstances, and I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish in a short period of time.

I love my players, and I passionately fight for them every day. I strongly believe that a first-class athletic program is a necessary component of an excellent school system.

It has never been my intention to cause controversy or division in the community. I believe Pell City’s brightest days are ahead of it, but I have concluded that I am not the right person to lead this program at this time. I am thankful that Dr. Martin and the Board of Education are committed to keeping our current coaching staff to provide continuity for our players who have worked so hard to improve this year. I am confident that our current coaching staff is ready to lead our team next season.

I appreciate how this community has fought for our players, and I hope that our community will continue to fight with that same passion as our team moves forward.

Rush Propst

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.