Rush Propst: "I'm open for business. I want to coach."

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- Once the clock hit all zeros after Coosa Christian School‘s thrilling 29-22 victory over Lanett for the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Class 2A state championship, the celebrations began for Rush Propst and the Conquerors.

It was just like the old days.

Five other times in his high school coaching career, Propst had the pleasure of hoisting the AHSAA state title trophy, with all of those being when he starred as the head coach at Hoover (Ala.). This time might’ve been a little different for Propst, though. Even he didn’t think he’d be back in this position to win a state title in Alabama.

“No, not in Alabama I didn’t,” Propst said. “I always thought it would be tough to get back Alabama. I never thought I could get back here, but I’m glad I am.”

Those situations were byproducts of the monster he had built during his time with the Buccaneers, something Propst had even alluded to the fact in one of the MTV filmed a documentary series, Two-A-Days, episodes that showcased Hoover’s 2005 and 2006 seasons.

The need to feed the monster is something the Propst had done with the Hoover football program and later at Colquitt County (Ga.) and Valdosta (Ga.) before re-emerging back in the Yellowhammer State at Pell City and then this season as Coosa Christian’s head coach.

For a high school football head coach that has lived through a career that’s seen so much success combined with controversy, if there’s one thing someone can take away from Friday evening’s state championship win: Propst has more left in the coaching tank.

“I’m not done with coaching,” Propst said. “I want to coach. Coosa (Christian) just has to make their mind up on what they want to do. If they want to bring the other guy back, I’m okay either way. I’m gonna coach, whether it’s at Coosa or somewhere else. I’m open for business. I want to finish my career in the right way. I think whether that’s in Georgia or Alabama, it doesn’t matter. I want to coach about another six or seven years.”

Propst when asked what does he have left to accomplish as a coach, he pointed to the fact of the coaching desire and fire that continues to burn when it comes to winning games and developing high school football players.

“Coaching young men and helping kids get to the next level,” Propst said about why he wants to keep coaching. “I’m just not made for retirement. I want to be in the pressure cooker.”

Rivals asked Propst about his comments on having overtures from other schools, including in Georgia, the legendary coach was coy in his response.

“Yeah. …yeah, people talk,” Propst said about if he had any offers to coach in Georgia. “Thing you have to figure out about South Georgia is the boosters are really big down there and passionate about football. You’re going to play in front of 12,000 to 15,000 every week and there’s passionate boosters, who really put a lot of pressure on people down there. Not directly, but indirectly I’ve had some people reach out. I have a grandson here in Pell City. I have a business in Gadsden. It’s going to have to be really good for me to look at it. I have two granddaughters in Moultrie, Georgia, so that’s tough. Would I go back down (South Georgia), maybe. The grandkids and my wife will make this call. It probably won’t be me.”

Propst will take some time he said to reflect on the state championship season he and Coosa Christian just had, but rumors continue to connect the former Colquitt County/Valdosta boss to a potential return to South Georgia.

With now eight state championships as a head coach in hand and wanting to coach at least another half dozen years, by the sounds of it, one way or another, Propst wants to be the lead man of a high school football program. When it comes to the business side of of it, if it makes sense, it could be anywhere between Alabama, Georgia or Mississippi.

Propst just wants to coach.

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