Controversial High School Football Coach Rush Propst Resigns From His Latest Job After Facing Wage Garnishment for $120,000 He Owes in Alimony
AL.com — Rush Propst’s surprising resignation as Pell City High’s head football coach came the same week his wages were set to be garnished in an ongoing legal matter with his former wife, according to court records reviewed by AL.com.
According to their Feb. 26, 2009 divorce document, Propst was to pay $2,000 per month to Tammy Propst until he dies or until his ex-wife “shall die, remarry or live openly, or cohabit, with a member of the opposite sex.”
On April 16, 2024, Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Thomas E. Thrash Sr. ordered Propst to pay $6,540.50 to Tammy Propst as well as $8,000 in legal fees to the plaintiff’s counsel.
The court order also stated Propst owed past due spousal support in the amount of $106,000 “representing no payment whatsoever toward said obligation of 53 months prior to the court filing.” With interest included, the total was stated to be $123,875.
Thrash ordered withholding $2,000 per month of Propst’s income from his employer, Pell City Schools, immediately.
That order was officially filed into state court records May 3 --- the same day Propst announced his resignation from Pell City.
The Rush Propst saga has taken yet another turn as Propst has resigned from his head coaching job at Pell City (AL) after a judge ordered his wages to be garnished to help pay $120,000 in alimony Propst owed his ex-wife. Forget high school football or even just football in general; this guy is one of the most fascinating figures in American sports in the 21st century. For those who may need a bit of a timeline refresher or don't know all of the Rush Propst lore, here's a quick rundown:
- 1999-2007: Head coach at Hoover High School (AL), won 110 games and five state championships, featured on MTV's Two-A-Days
- 2007: Propst resigns from Hoover after it was revealed he had a second secret family
- 2008-2018: Head coach at Colquitt County (GA), won back-to-back state championships before being fired for allegedly providing pills to players and being verbally abusive (Propst was later cleared of those accusations and had his Georgia teaching certificate reinstated)
- 2020: Head coach at Valdosta (GA), had entire season forfeited and was fired after accusations of illegally paying players were brought to light by a secret recording by a Valdosta booster
- 2023: Head coach at Pell City (AL), went 1-9 before resigning amidst his recent legal troubles
So suffice it to say controversy usually finds a way to follow Propst pretty closely.
More often than not, though, Propst wins. I'd be shocked if there isn't a high school somewhere in the South that isn't having conversations right now about trying to bring Propst on board. If you're desperate enough for success in towns where the local high school team means more than the NFL, there's a coach out there right now who could probably get you there if you're willing to likely have everything eventually go up in a blaze of glory.
I think Rush just needs one more chance.