Rush Propst, the well-traveled and embattled former high school football coach at
Valdosta (Ga.), might get a second chance, media reports indicate. The Valdosta City Schools will revisit the coach's April 27 firing Monday after a board member who supported Propst motioned for the special meeting,
the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported Wednesday.
The school board voted 5-3 to dismiss the coach amid allegations of the coach illegally recruiting five players to Valdosta, including Californian Jake Garcia. However, Warren Lee, one of the three to back Propst, called for the board to reconsider the decision. An announcement post on the school board website read "Revisit non-renewal of head football coach at VHS - Mr. Warren Lee - action required."
That means the board could reinstate Propst, even after the Georgia High School Association upheld the $7,500 fine levied on the program in addition to forcing the school to forfeit seven wins in 2020 and banning the team from the 2021 playoffs.
In February, Propst was the subject of a lengthy deposition that alleged he
was involved in recruiting, mishandling money and even interfering in
the hiring process that brought him to the program to begin with. Michael
Nelson, who has been involved with the Valdosta Touchdown Club booster
organization for many years, said in his sworn deposition that Propst,
among other things, paid for housing for two transfers, facilitated
recruiting of players with the help of college coaches, asked for a
"funny money" slush fund and meddled in his own hiring process.
Propst owns a career record of 299-92 – including 7-5 in his lone season
at Valdosta – and has won seven state titles during a high-profile,
30-year career. He garnered national attention while at
Hoover (Ala.),
which was featured on MTV's popular "Two-A-Days" reality show. He
resigned there in 2007 and was dismissed at
Colquitt County (Norman Park, Ga.)
in 2019 after being charged with lack of compliance, improper conduct
with students, dishonesty and misuse of public funds and property.
The AJC reported Propst remains under investigation by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, which can deny teaching certificates. The commission pulled Propst's credential after his Colquitt County dismissal, but regained in on appeal, leading to his hiring at Valdosta.
Former Valdosta coach Rush Propst
File photo by Gary McCullough
