Coosa Christian athletic director Rush Propst leaves to become Pell City football coach

Coosa Christian athletic director Rush Propst is leaving the school after only 10 weeks on the job, football coach Mark O'Bryant told the Gadsden Times on Friday.

Coosa Christian principal Amanda Justus confirmed Propst's departure in a news release Friday

"Coosa Christian School would like to express our support for coach Rush Propst and his family," the release stated. "As with all of our staff, we always want what's best for them and their families. When we hired Coach Propst, we knew there could be other opportunities for him. We are grateful for the lifelong friendships that were made. We wish all the best for Coach Propst and fully support him in his new endeavors at Pell City."

Propst will become the football coach at Pell City, O'Bryant said.

Coosa Christian announced Propst's hiring as athletic director and associate football head coach for the Conquerers, sharing head coaching duties with O'Bryant, on Jan. 16.

Propst has a 295-108 record over 31 seasons as a head football coach. He has won seven state championships, five in Alabama (2000, 2002 to 2005) and two in Georgia (2014, 2015). The High School Football America computer rankings voted Propst and his Colquitt County squad national champions following an undefeated season.

O'Bryant will remain as football coach a season after being selected the Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 1A Coach of the Year. In 2022, O'Bryant led the Conquerers to a state semifinal appearance.

HOW IT BEGAN: Rush Propst named new associate head football coach, athletic director at Coosa Christian

FOOTBALL SUCCESS: AHSAA playoffs: Close loss against tough foe started Coosa on run to 1A semifinals

Propst, a native of nearby Ohatchee, graduated from Jacksonville State before spending time as an assistant coach at Cleburne County, Cherokee County in Georgia and Ashville. He was promoted to head coach at Ashville in 1989. He remained there for five seasons before moving to Eufala for three seasons. He spent a year each at Alba and Alma Bryant before taking the Hoover job in 1999.

Hoover and Propst gained national notoriety during 2006-07 as the subjects of MTV's "Two-A-Days" which gave behind-the-scenes insight into the Hoover program. Propst resigned following the 2007 season after allegations of various improprieties along with allegations that Propst later verified that he was maintaining a second family.

Propst returned to Georgia, coaching at Colquitt County for 11 seasons with a 119-35 record. He was dismissed in 2019 after allegations of improprieties in the program. He was a volunteer coach at UAB for a season before returning to Georgia at Valdosta High in 2020. The Wildcats advanced to the Class 6A semifinals before falling to Buford, the eventual state champions. Once again, allegations of improprieties that included illegal recruiting and the mishandling of school funds, resulted in Propst being dismissed.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Coosa Christian athletic director Rush Propst leaving after 10 weeks