How to watch: Rush Propst has Coosa Christian playing for Alabama state title

Rush Propst, the well-traveled and often controversial high school football coach, has led Coosa Christian (Gadsden, Ala.) to the state title game in his first season with the program.

Coosa Christian (12-2) plays Lanett (12-2) for the Class 2A title after beating Pisgah 44-36 on Friday. Sophomore Kylen Johnson ran for more than 300 yards and six touchdowns in the semifinal victory.

Propst, the winner of five state titles at Hoover from 1999-2007, is in his first championship game since leading Colquitt County (Norman Park) to a 2018 final in Georgia. He was named the interim coach at Coosa Christian in August after Mark O'Bryant was suspended by the school.

How to watch
Date/location: Friday, Dec. 5 | Protective Stadium, Birmingham
Kickoff: 3 p.m. CT
Streaming: NFHS Network
His last stop before landing back in Alabama was at Valdosta (Ga.), where he was fired after the 2021 season amid allegations of illegally recruiting five players, including University of Michigan quarterback Jake Garcia. The coach was the subject of a lengthy deposition that alleged he was involved in recruiting, mishandling funds and even interfering in the hiring process that brought him to the program to begin with. The season was chronicled in the Netflix series "Title Town."

He garnered national attention while at Hoover, which was featured on MTV's popular "Two-A-Days" reality show. He resigned there in 2007 and was dismissed at Colquitt County in 2019 after being charged with lack of compliance, improper conduct with students, dishonesty and misuse of public funds and property.

The Conquerors are led by sophomore running back Johnson and fellow sophomore quarterback Mac Long, who has nearly 2,000 yards passing.