Smith spent his last several seasons trying to resurrect a struggling Robertsdale program and then starting the Orange Beach team. Pike Road went 14-0 and averaged 46 points a game a year ago, but coach Patrick Browning left for Greenville and star players Iverson Hooks, Quinshon Judkins and Khurtiss Perry will be playing on Saturdays this fall. Anderson built his National High School Sports Hall of Fame legacy over 43 years as head coach at Vestavia, winning 346 of his 560 games. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Thats one of the biggest things that drew me to the Vestavia Hills football program. In 1990, he married Tammy Cox, his high school sweetheart, with whom he had three children. Robert Evans, Vestavia Hills After Buddy Anderson won 346 games in 43 years, Vestavia Hills has now had two coaching changes. Now he has plans to retire from coaching after this falls football season. In addition to football, he was a two-year starter on the basketball team and even though Ohatchee did not have a track program, he checked out of school one afternoon and won the District 100-yard dash his senior year. When the breaks of the game go against us, we dont let up, we go harder., Finally, I asked Coach Anderson what led him to choose 2020 as his last to coach high school ball. Neal; Josh Harris, Blount; Renardo Jackson, LeFlore; Jerrel Jernigan, Eufaula; Rodney Jordan, Satsuma; Jed Kennedy, Dothan; John McKenzie, Murphy; Gus Smith, Gordo; Mike Vickery, Pelham; Brandon Wilcox, Escambia Academy. Ben Blackmon won another. Morson hired Brett Mask away from Colbert County to be his offensive coordinator and has one of the states top recruits on his roster in Alabama commit Jahlil Hurley. The team was named national champion by two publications in 2015. Madoline, editor of Homewood Life, is always on the hunt for a good meal and an even better story. Here he shares some of his thoughts on stepping into the Vestavia program as longtime coach Buddy Anderson retires after becoming the winningest football coach in Alabama history in his 43 years coaching the Rebels. We now have834teams & 188,070games on AHSFHS.org. It was something the kids needed to be exposed to for various reasons, he said. Browning expressed concerns over reports that grades for certain athletes had been altered to make them eligible for college play, and made those concerns known to Hoover City Schools Superintendent Andy Craig in a meeting in April. People have talked about filling his shoes, but I dont look at it that way. Greenville has been an annual threat in 5A but hasnt won a state title since 1994. Shelby County Newspapers, Inc. As a truck traveling down Highway 31 lost its brakes and barreled through an intersection, those three lives were cut short in a tragic event that still shakes the entire community when it . Propst was eventually promoted to head football coach at Ashville High, serving from 1989 to 1993. And countless former players went on to be successful in college athletics. His brother, Philip was a star on that team. Pinson Valley coach Lee Guess directs his team during 7-on-7 football action at Samford University in Homewood, Ala., Tuesday, June 28, 2022. 15 impact high school football coaching hires for the 2022 season If you have a disability or face any barriers accessing website content, please contact (205) 402-5100 or email webmaster@vestavia.k12.al.us. Propst took his first coaching position as a student assistant at Ohatchee in 1977, the year they won their only state championship. Everyone knows hes an unbelievable coach, 1982 VHHS graduate Mitch Allen, will tell you. That young newlywed who brought his bride to Vestavia Hills all those years ago has since raised three daughters, all graduates of VHHS, and is now grandfather to seven. 32. Browning spent the last six years at Pike Road, building the program from its infancy to the Class 5A state championship in 2021. In just his second year of coaching at Colquitt County, Propst took a team that had finished 2-8 in 2007 to an 11-3 season and the state semifinals in 2009. Kids want to belong to something bigger than their self. He never once put me off or was too busy to help a young coach. Propst was relieved of coaching duties following the 2018 season. 1. The Gazette went out of business about five weeks later. Coach, Varsity Head Coach - Men's Soccer, Asst. All of our coaches are really good men, first, and really good football coaches.. In 2015, Colquitt County completed another 15-0 season with a 30-13 victory over the Roswell Hornets to claim their second consecutive Georgia AAAAAA State Championship. Morson takes over for Waldrop at Florence. I love Buddy Anderson. I would love to be here as long as he was, thats for sure., To begin building his legacy at Vestavia Hills, Calhoun will shape the program in his image with five new assistants, including a new football operations director, Mickey Reville. Josh Niblett followed with six state titles in 14 years. He previously served eight years as a linebackers coach and defensive coordinator at Hoover High School and spent time at Oak Mountain, Spanish Fort, and UAB. [17] In 2012, Colquitt finished 10-4 after losing 41-27 to the eventual state champions, Norcross High School, in the state semifinal game. Anytime Hoover changes coaches, it has to be big news. (Submitted). On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Weve become such an instant society. Watch the 2022 AHSAA Football Playoffs Vestavia Hills High School vs. Thompson High School - 11/12/2022 live and on demand online on the NFHS Network . The former Williamson and Auburn star is finally the man in charge of his alma mater. And probably not as many as Hewitt-Trussville and Hoover. VESTAVIA, Ala. (WBRC) - Vestavia Hills High School has announced that a former rebel will return as the schools new head football coach. He runs the show and keeps this whole place in line. Stover played two years for Nick Saban at Alabama and has said he will bring lessons he learned from all of his coaches to his first high school head job. Free self-guided test prep materials through the VHHS Library. At Alma Bryant he amassed a 122 record. All rights reserved (About Us). Spanish Fort needed a new coach after Blackmon left after seven years. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. In a 30-minute address to the board and a large crowd inside the board chambers, Propst tearfully admitted to a relationship outside his marriage and a child as a result of that relationship, but no other wrongdoing. [5] During Propst's tenure, Hoover was repeatedly ranked in the nation's top-25 polls, finishing as the #16 team in the nation in 2003,[6] #4 in the nation in 2004,[7] #8 in the nation in 2005,[8] and ranked #1 entering the 2006 season by Sports Illustrated, USA Today[9] and the National Prep Football Poll. [20][21] In 2014, Rush Propst led his Colquitt County Packer football team to their second undefeated season (15-0) and a second state title (first one came in 1994), by defeating Archer High School 28-24 on December 13, 2014 to claim the 2014 1-AAAAAA State Championship and his first state title within Georgia. At the last minute, things worked out, and that trip that would lay the foundation for years of service through FCA. A lot of things are still the same and havent changed. Staffing - Vestavia Hills Soccer Club If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Vestavia Hills Football (@1rebelfootball) / Twitter Enough had happened already, and I didnt want to add to everything by leaving my players. Any games that the five players played in were forfeited. Coach - Outdoor Track, Asst. 2826 Columbiana Road. VHHS is part of the Vestavia Hills City School District with approximately 1,800 students and 21 varsity sports. But on July 28, 2007, The Birmingham News went public with the allegations when it published a letter from attorneys for Bishop to the Hoover Board of Education. Coach, Head Coach - 7th Men's Basketball, Asst. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). Ohatchee was 27-5-1 in Propst's three years as a starter at wide receiver and defensive back, with Propst earning All-County recognition as a senior. VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. The Vestavia Hills Board of Education on Wednesday approved the hiring of Sean Calhoun as the new head football coach at Vestavia Hills High School. But in June 2007, the criticism became more vocal and more formal when HHS athletic director Jerry Browning, Propst's immediate superior, resigned over numerous differences between himself and principal Richard Bishop, who was a teammate of Propst on the football team at Jacksonville State University. Hire A Vestavia Hills Area Pro To Get A Head Start On Spring Cleaning. Thomas Rush Propst (born December 1957) is a high school football coach who currently serves as athletic director and associate football coach at Coosa Christian School in Gadsden, Alabama. . St. Paul's head coach Steve Mask instructs tight end Chett Elder in the first half of a prep football game against Faith Academy on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021, in Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell | preps@al.com). Do we have as many as the top teams in our region? us to complete every school. We as coaches have to find a way to put our guys in the right spot so they can succeed as individuals and we can succeed on offense, defense and special teams. [26] Among the findings were that Propst's bank records indicated support for a "second family" in Pell City, Alabama, but the incidents regarding grade-changing were largely caused by an assistant principal and an administrator. His father coached high school ball for 31 years, and it was not difficult to make the decision to follow in his footsteps. He is a real man., Coach Andersons impact reaches far and wide throughout the community and across all sorts of professions. Calhoun, 39, has served as Carrolltons head football coach since 2016. They both wrestle, so we have a nickname for them: the Road Warriors from the old WCW. Vestavia Hills High School has hired a new football coach to replace legend Buddy Anderson. If you are at a place this long, you are doing a lot of things the right way. They are both about 6-foot-2, 6-3 and are about 220 pounds. Invite the coach When my career is done, if I can even be in the same sentence or book as Coach Anderson, I have done a couple of things right. I have failed you as a community. "Coach Anderson had an amazing career and is an amazing man, and I look forward to meeting with him and learning from him so we can continue to grow this program.". He spent a year as a volunteer assistant coach at UAB. I have failed you as a board, and especially I have failed you (Superintendent) Andy (Craig)," Propst said. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. During those discussions, Ford was fired, live and on the air, by Gazette general manager John Junkin. A whole lot. Meek was the teams coach for 11 of the 12 years the school has had a program. The DVD outlines the steps to build a successful gridiron program, including the preparation and responsibilities of a coaching staff including the importance of building a booster club.[41]. [11] When Les Koenning left the University of South Alabama in January 2009, head coach Joey Jones interviewed Propst to fill the vacant position as the offensive coordinator. He also was the first coach in Park Crossing history, winning 38 games in just four years and taking the team to the 6A semifinals in 2016. He was also the founder of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter at Vestavia Hills High School. Tough people do. Stadium: Reynolds Stadium, Buddy Anderson Field. Vestavia Hills High School - Official Athletics Website He sure had a big impact on me and my life, and I am grateful for him., 2010 graduate Austin Whitt speaks to a similar influence on his life. @1rebelathletics . (Dennis Victory | preps@al.com)Dennis Victory | preps@al.com, The mindset I had was that I needed some Alabama guys who were not previously here, Calhoun said. He has three state titles on his resume and expects to win at Orange Beach as well. Coach: Buddy Anderson. He takes over a Northridge program that Mike Vickery rebuilt before leaving for Pelham. Staff - Vestavia Hills Rebels (Vestavia Hills, AL) Varsity Football 22-23 The Indians have won three state titles since 2017 so expectations will be high. We are excited to see them get playing time., Competition is still ongoing to see who will be the triggerman for Calhouns offense. I dont think whoever they could have hired could fill those shoes. Hes been the teams defensive coordinator for six years under Dedrick Sumpter and then Melvin Pete Jr. Coleman has brought back several former Williamson and Mobile prep stars to join his staff, including Jamarcus Russell and Sherman Williams. [16] In 2011, Colquitt finished 11-3 after losing 35-31 to the eventual state champions, Grayson High School, in the state semifinal game. It wasnt something they had planned to do, and they werent really sure how they would find a way to attend. But to me and the thousands of young men that got to play for him during his career, his biggest value was in the impact he had in our lives as husbands, fathers, Christian leaders, friends and really, just as people living in our communities. Louis Pizitz Middle School / Homepage - Vestavia Hills City Schools Pointer completed his investigation in late September, and after considerable debate over several sessions (and public pressure from numerous public figures, including Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos), the Hoover Board of Education voted 4-1 to release the report through several sources, including the board's website. I want leaders to have character, not be a character. He won 77 games with the Toros and the 2015 6A title. We went to UABs 7-on-7 tournament, Calhoun said. His playoff record is 47-29 while his region record stands at 152-71 which is the most region wins in state history. This year felt right. Director of Athletics - Vestavia Hills City Schools, Administrative Athletic Director, Varsity Head Coach - Softball, Assistant Athletic Director - Liberty Park, Head 7th Grade Football, Asst. Were settling in, getting our feet stabilized and the kids are starting to meet new friends.. In any given day we were arguably with our coaches more than our parents, so its really important to have a coach you can see as a father figure., My own son played for Coach Anderson and never missed a single one of those FCA meetings. RELATED: Waldrop embracing Bucs tradition, Former Eufaula coach Ed Rigby has been named head football coach at Pike Road. Calhoun previously served as offensive coordinator for two seasons at Colquitt County High School in south Georgia. Hes a kid who has played some quarterback, but he hasnt played much varsity. Nikita Stover was named the new head football coach at Decatur Heritage Christian Academy on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Michael Seale , Patch Staff Posted Thu, Jan 14, 2021 at 9:13 am CT With me being a new set of eyes and with a handful of our coaches being new, we all had to see them in a competitive setting. 2022-2023 VHSC Boys Staffing. The kids gravitate toward a kid like that. Kids need to stand on their own two feet and learn how to be productive for themselves. Football Staff Vestavia Hills Football Staff Players (99) Staff (2) Robert Evans Head Coach Are you the coach? Cole Turner is a senior receiver. [22] Bishop originally announced that there was nothing to be concerned about, but Craig overruled Bishop and announced that a full investigation would be carried out, to be headed by former federal judge Sam C. Pointer, Jr.[23][24]. Sean Calhoun's first year as Vestavia Hills football coach may be mix Calhoun, who picked up his offensive know-how as a backup Air Raid QB at Valdosta State under now-Samford coach Chris Hatcher, said the Rebels will continue to be known as a tough football team. Stover replaces Steve Meek, who retired after 11 seasons leading the Eagles. We just have to follow him and make our own footprints and build on his legacy. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. All rights reserved (About Us). P.O. Rigby comes in after a successful stint at Eufaula and does have talent returning, including sophomore running back Anthony Rogers and senior offensive tackle Vysen Lang. A meet-and-greet event for Robert and his wife Anne Evans will be held on Monday, Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. at Vestavia Hills High School. He has built this place, and people still need to see his face. [10] Propst's base salary at Hoover was $100,678. "The foundation that has already been laid in Vestavia Hills is great, and I look forward to building upon that foundation and impacting lives through the football program," Calhoun said. He played with a broken forearm last year. His Rebel teams won 16 area and region championships, and made 31 state playoff appearances. When I asked Jeff to share a lesson he learned from him as a player, he said: Tough times dont last. Whats one bad thing about high school athletics in 2020? Former Hewitt-Trussville and Auburn wide receiver got the promotion at Pinson Valley following Sam Shades departure to Miles College. He studied both physical education and math at Samford University, and while he spent many years in the classroom, his heart has always been on the football field. The former Prattville and Central-Phenix City head coach returns to the state after a two-year stint in Georgia. I asked him to share a great lesson hed learned from Coach that he carries with him still today. In his column in the edition of July 4, 2007 of The Western Star, Ford reported that a number of sources, none of which would allow their name to be used, said that Propst's alleged affair also included a child born out of wedlock. Rush Propst - Wikipedia He led Fayetteville (Tenn.) High to the 2020 Class 1A state title and compiled a 34-4 record in three seasons there. He will have a rebuilding job on his hands at Spain Park. He was hired at Hoover in 1999, where he coached for nine years, winning 110 games and five state championships. Coach, Varsity Head Coach - Men's Bowling, Asst. There are so many predators out there and its scary to me. AGE BIRTH YEARS TEAMS FORMAT COACH; U19: 2004: Steamers 04 Black: 11v11: Robert Starr: U18: 2005: Steamers 05 Black: 11v11: Robert Starr: U17: 2006: . Coaching is a commitment to working with kids. Vestavia Hills Magazineis publishedquarterly by The investigation resulted in the forfeiture of four games, including a 1-0 loss to crosstown rival Spain Park High School, the first loss to the Jaguars in the history of the teams' rivalry. Propst attended college at Jacksonville State University where he was a non-scholarship member of the JSU football team in 1976-1977. [33] He appealed [34] and was instead given a reprimand. One is senior offensive lineman Hoke Smith, he said. [18][19] In 2013, Colquitt finished 11-3 after losing 14-9 to the eventual state champions, Norcross High School, in the state semifinal game. Every coach since Vincents 2010 title has won at least one. Calhoun, 39, has served as the head football coach at Carrollton High in Georgia since 2016. In 1998, Propst coached Alma Bryant High School, the school that resulted from Alba's merger with the high school in Grand Bay, Alabama. Coach Volleyball, Asst. He is a Florence native and longtime Decatur offensive coordinator. His record as a head football coach for the past 43 years at Vestavia Hills High School is 346-160 with two state football championships. Copyright 2022 WBRC. Through the years Linda has been a school teacher, a stay-at-home mother, a private tutor and worked for Alabama Public Television as well as in the ministry field. Its exciting and a little nerve-wracking taking over a program that has been in such great hands for 43 years. Robert Evans graduated from Vestavia Hills High School in 1999 and was a defensive back on Buddy Anderson's 1998 state championship team. [38], On April 8, 2021, the Valdosta High School football team was sanctioned due to recruiting and undue influence committed by Propst and the Valdosta booster club. He takes over a proud Benjamin Russell program that hasnt won a playoff game since reaching the 6A semifinals in 2015 under coach Danny Horn. 1Rebel Athletics. What I expect from this team is to give 100 percent. Guess was Pinsons offensive coordinator last season and was wide receivers coach for five years before that. Ryan Herring, head coach in Pierce County, Georgia, is another second-generation football coach whose dad became friends with Coach Anderson back in the early 1970s when they were both coaching in Birmingham. He was named Region Coach of the Year at the end of the 2019 and 2020 seasons. I dont know what that plan is either, but I know it is a great one. Vestavia Hills High School (@VestaviaHillsHS) / Twitter He should be called the head coach, Calhoun said. Orange Beach head coach Jamey DuBose discusses the upcoming prep football season during Baldwin County Media Day on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, in Daphne, Ala. (Mike Kittrell | preps@al.com). Propst, who is of German descent, is a native of Ohatchee, Alabama where he graduated from Ohatchee High School in 1976. Orange Beach head coach Chase Smith in action during a 7-on-7 prep football tournament at University of South Alabama on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, in Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell | preps@al.com). Reach her at madoline.markham@homewoodlife.com. Sadly, it would be their last. Sadly, it would be their last. Sean Calhoun and his family finally are making Vestavia Hills their home. They were alike in so many ways: both strong Christian men, both strong citizens in their communities and both coached over 40 years, Ryan shares. In February, 1978, assistant Buddy Anderson became Head Coach Buddy Anderson. It took about five months to find a house for the five Calhouns after he took on the task of replacing Alabamas all-time winningest high-school football coach Buddy Anderson in January. Robert Evans is the new Vestavia Hills football coach. Select Year: 1970 <-- 2016 <- 2017 -> 2018 --> 2022. Thats what we get from our kids, for sure.. Our guys take pride in our community and have that pride with a little edge, a chip on their shoulders, Calhoun said. And I know that Buddy Anderson will carry on making a difference in the lives of young people. My dad was always my coaching mentor in life, and around 2007 I gained Buddy Anderson as another mentor. Still, the Tigers usually have talent and now have a coach with a state title on his resume. Baseball Adam Moseley amoseley@hoover.k12.al.us (256) 348-5442. Rush Propst. He takes over an Enterprise that has been a fairly consistent winner but hasnt had much playoff success. Colors: Red, White & Blue. He compiled a 51-12 record over five seasons with the Trojans including three region championships and five quarterfinal playoff appearances. Published: Jan. 5, 2022 at 7:44 AM PST. Vestavia Hills City Schools is committed to ensuring all information placed on its public website is accessible to individuals with disabilities. Vestavia Hills superintendent Todd Freeman, Ed.D., described Evans as a man of character, a committed educator, and a brilliant football coach. During his tenure at Hoover, Propst was a frequent target of critics. [37] The PSC investigation into Propst (case 19-2-1025) was settled with a 131 day suspension. I have been fortunate to know Coach Anderson for years, and when we talked about this story, I couldnt pass up the chance to ask a few questions of my own. Ford, was then hired by editor Dale Jones of The Western Star in nearby Bessemer, after his firing from The Hoover Gazette. It took about five months to find a house for the five Calhouns after he took on the task of replacing Alabama's. He won 99 games with the Green Wave and took the team to a state title game. That excites me because now we get to see how good our preparation is. Explore the benefits. Everyone who knows Coach Anderson knows that this is why he did it, and what he cared about mostpositively impacting the lives of everyone around him. Vestavia Hills Football Roster 2022-23 Players (99) Staff (2) Do you have a team photo? The topic was the focus of considerable discussion on the Paul Finebaum syndicated sports talk radio show, where Hunter Ford, a reporter for The Hoover Gazette newspaper, reported the rumors. As we were writing this article, he was working on a socially distanced version, and theres no doubt he will find a way to keep the tradition alive. At a time when youre figuring out who and what you are as a boy, and in a sport that takes so much time, effort, sweat and constructive criticism, it was so beneficial to have a coach who understood his players. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. P.O. VHSC Girls Staff U12-U19. When we got here, we were playing him at receiver, splitting time at quarterback. Bert Newton, son of former Homewood coach and AHSAA Hall of Famer Bob Newton, is the new defensive coordinator. It was an honor meeting him. Pet Adoption In The Vestavia Hills Area: New Dogs, Cats Added This Week, Vestavia Hills Job Listings: See Who's Hiring In The Area. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Vestavia Hills Football! The first thing I told this team is that I am a Christian. [1] He is also the former head coach at Colquitt County High School in Moultrie, Georgia, Hoover High School in Hoover, Alabama, and Valdosta High School in Valdosta, Georgia. Propst's Hoover team was one of the top-ranked teams in the United States over much of the first decade of the new millennium, winning Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 6A state championships in five of the first six seasons including four consecutive titles from 2002 to 2005 (missing out on 6 straight after losses in the championship game to Daphne in 2001 and Prattville in 2006). Beyond his players, Coach Anderson has had a strong and positive influence on other coaches through the years. When you get knocked down, you get back up. And I know God still has a plan for me, I just dont know what all it will be yet.. Coach Anderson says that those FCA camps helped to keep their marriage strong for decades, and its also where he got the idea to start an FCA group in his home. Calhoun went 4 and 6 this past season at Vestavia. He and his father are also one of only two father-son pairs to be inducted into the Alabama High School Hall of Fame. One was the competition. 7. We have chosen to publish this vestavia hills high school football coaching staff Under his tenure as athletic director of the Vestavia Hills High School athletic program the sports teams have won over 45 state championships, and numerous runner-up trophies in all boys and girls sports.