Former Colquitt, Valdosta Coach Reveals Plans in Interview
On a recent episode of “Extra Point! With Phil Jones,” Rush Propst gave viewers a pretty clear idea of what he intends to do next fall, which is to be on a sideline coaching football again.
“There’s a very good chance that Rush Propst will be on a sideline this coming fall … somewhere,” said Propst. “There is a school that has offered me a position.” Propst added, however, that the coaching job “will likely be at a different level than what most people will expect me to be at.”
So, what does that mean exactly? If we try to read between the lines and make sense of Propst’s comments, I’m guessing that means it would be at a smaller school than the bigger schools he has spent time at. Propst’s last three coaching jobs were at Hoover, Colquitt County, and Valdosta, all Class 7A schools, the largest in both Alabama and Georgia.
It’s safe to assume that the job offer is at an Alabama school. During the one-hour interview, Propst disclosed that he has spent the last year in his home state, doing a lot of bird hunting and watching his son, Thomas, play football for Piedmont, which recently finished 12-3 and played for the Alabama 7A state championship, where they lost to Thompson.
Thomas Propst enjoyed a great senior season, catching 50 passes for 684 yards and 6 TDs. Propst has another son, John David, who is a sophomore and also plays high school football. Where he plays next may depend on where his father lands.
Sweet Home Alabama
Propst left little doubt about his fondness for the state of Alabama, where he has not only spent the past two years, but where he has coached the majority of his career.
“You have to remember, I have spent 27 years of coaching in Alabama and 13 years of coaching in Georgia,” Propst said. “I have had a chance to reconnect with a lot of old friends in Alabama over these last few months. It’s been refreshing.”
Propst had a few more things to say about what could potentially be his first head coaching job since leaving his post as the Valdosta head coach during the 2021 season.
“People will be a little shocked if I take this position that I’ve been offered, but I’m excited about it, to be truthful about it,” Propst said. “This job that’s been offered would fit me, as far as where I’m living. But I’ve still got some soul-searching to do. I’ve got some decisions to make.”
When does Propst think he might make a decision on returning to coaching?
“Sometimes in mid to late January, I’ll make a decision,” he said.
Propst is still revered in Alabama. He has friends there, both on personal and professional levels. His family seems to like it there, and in the interview, Propst seems to like it a lot, too.
However, Propst did leave the door open for a possible return to Georgia at some point.
“I cherish Georgia and I still consider it home in a lot of ways,” he said. “I think if the right opportunity came about in Georgia, then I would not be opposed to coming back to a school [there].”
Stay tuned.
Note: The entire interview with Rush Propst on his coaching future can be seen and heard with Phil Jones on the December 6, 2022 episode of Extra Point!
