Rush Propst has been placed under investigation by the Valdosta city school system after allegations came to light that the Valdosta (Georgia) High School coach arranged rent payments for transfer quarterbacks and funneled money from the Valdosta Touchdown Club into his own pocket.
The allegations came to light in a deposition by Touchdown Club director Michael Nelson, who testified in a trial brought by former Valdosta coach Alan Rodemaker. Rodemaker is suing school board members for allegedly firing him because the board preferred a Black coach.
Propst led Valdosta to Georgia's Class 6A semifinals in his first season at the school.
In the deposition, Nelson accuses Propst of asking him to arrange rent for two players, one of them $2,500-a-month payments for Jake Garcia, a 4-star California quarterback whose parents legally dissolved their marriage in order for Garcia to complete his senior season in Georgia. Garcia was ruled ineligible at Valdsota, but played the season at Grayson and led the school to the Class 7A state championship. He is now enrolled at Miami.
The entire case is based off one man's testimony, but here's the key exchange.
Valdosta City Schools superintendent Dr. Todd Cason told WALB-TV he is aware of the deposition and has launched an investigation.