A pair of Pell City Board of Education members put the blame for Wednesday’s attempted – but failed — firing of football coach Rush Propst on “jealousy and vindictiveness” and a lack of communication among the school system’s leadership.

The board held a special called meeting before an overflow crowd. The primary item on the agenda was the non-renewal of Propst’s contract.

However, when superintendent Dr. James Martin raised the agenda item before the board, there was no motion made by any of the five board members, causing it to fail and leading to a joyous reaction in the packed room.

“I think this is going to bring a championship to the city, and it brings hope,” Pell City parent David Yarbrough said following the meeting. “You wouldn’t have football games like you did last year with the energy and attendance if you didn’t have someone like coach Propst that is creating that buzz.

“It really matters to me. I watch how hard the kids are working in the offseason. They are working really hard, and it’s something they haven’t done in years here. They are doing what they are supposed to do.”

The only Board members to speak before the attempted motion – Norman Wilder and Greg Crump – both spoke in support of Propst, who is preparing to enter his second football season at the school. Both said they received the actual agenda only eight minutes before the meeting started.

Any potential reasons for the attempt to remove Propst were not discussed. Martin has yet to return messages from AL.com seeking comment.

Propst said he was proud to remain the football coach at the school.

“Our work here is not done,” Propst said. “Obviously there was a movement somewhere, but the powers that be saw fit to keep me as head coach.”

”There is always going to be back biting. You are going to have to fight through things, but the good thing is better days are ahead.”

Wilder said he requested the meeting, which was announced Tuesday morning, to be rescheduled because he had a family member having surgery Wednesday but the meeting went ahead as scheduled.

“It is a disgrace and a slap in my face, and I will not forget it,” Wilder said when reading a prepared statement.

He said Propst has created excitement in the school system that he hasn’t been seen previously and has fought for success, not just for the football team, but systemwide.

“He has assembled one of the most impressive staffs in the state,” Wilder said. “His success has created jealousy and vindictiveness by others. False accusations and blame are now a weekly occurrence by those jealous people.

“The Board was created to educate, and I have learned detractors are pulling students from their classes to interview them about allegations. We should not allow academics to be disturbed by agendas.”

Wilder called Propst “the hardest working” and “most focused employee” he has seen and said he believes success will come. Propst’s first Pell City team went 1-9 in 2023 but showed competitive improvement from the previous year.

“The success I refer to is not just winning but educating and preparing students for college,” he said.

“How to work, how to win, how to lose, how to work hard, how to push people beyond what they thought was capable. Coach Propst forces people to succeed beyond the maximum, and I appreciate that trait and encourage all employees to do the same.”

Crump also presented an emotional speech supporting Propst. He pointed to the overflow crowd in attendance, including a large presence of football players, as an indication that non-renewing Propst was not the right decision.

“I got here early,” he said. “I watched all these young kids walk in. If you could see them and how proudly they walked in to support their head coach that would tell you all you need to know. We are in this for you. If you watched those kids walk in here and you are thinking a different way, your heart is not in the right place.

“What we are attempting to do today does nothing for the kids. This is simply to appease adults with bruised egos and who want to show control. Our kids’ interests seem to be the farthest thing from this Board’s mind. …. Our town deserves better from our leaders.”

Crump said he was given a list of reasons to non-renew Propst from Martin on Monday.

“It’s like they gathered all they could gather and threw it up against the window to see what sticks,” he said. “The problem is nothing sticks.

“What I saw wasn’t very convincing. … If you are going to give me a day to fire our football coach at this terrible time for kids then I’m going to need better reasons. It’s destructive to our kids, our community and our school.”

Crump said Propst is not going to settle for mediocrity.

“Mediocre people don’t like high achievers, and that is what you see here today,” he said. “He is going to push our kids and, at the same time, push the adults as well. We aren’t going to settle for anything less. It’s what ya’ll (the team) deserve. It is what Pell City has been lacking for years.”

Wilder said he believed the better course in the situation – rather than dismissing Propst – was to ask for the resignation of Martin.

Crump agreed with Wilder.

The other three Board members didn’t speak for or against Propst on Wednesday.

AL.com correspondent Evan Dudley contributed to this report