Mark O’Bryant Reinstated as Coosa Christian Head Football Coach
GADSDEN, AL — Mark O’Bryant has been reinstated as head football coach at Coosa Christian School, the school announced Tuesday. The decision comes after O’Bryant served a season-long suspension in 2025, which allowed the Conquerors to regain playoff eligibility under Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) rules.
O’Bryant’s suspension, imposed in August, was part of the school’s efforts to address AHSAA sanctions related to violations of coaching regulations outside the school year. During his absence, interim coach Rush Propst led Coosa Christian to a 13-game winning streak and a Class 2A state championship, the first in the program’s history.
“Coach O’Bryant has been a valued part of our football program for many years, and we look forward to his leadership as we prepare for the upcoming season,” the school said in a statement. “We also extend our appreciation to Coach Rush Propst and his wife, Stefnie, for their time and effort in supporting our football program during this period.”
O’Bryant, who has been with Coosa Christian since 2020, has overseen several milestones for the program, including its first semifinal appearance in 2022 and a state championship game in 2023. His official record stands at 29-30, though his on-field performance is 38-21, with several wins forfeited due to AHSAA sanctions in 2023 and 2024.
Propst, who has won eight state titles in his career, has expressed interest in continuing to coach, though his future with Coosa Christian remains uncertain. “I’m not done with coaching,” Propst said after the championship win. “Coosa just has to make their mind up what they want to do. If they want to bring the other guy back, so be it. I’m OK either way.”
Propst lead the Conquerors to a 13-2 record in 2025, highlighted by a 29-22 victory over Lanett in the Class 2A state title game to capture the program’s first ever AHSAA state football championship.
Click here to check out the full 2026 Alabama high school football Coaching Carousel.
The Conquerors will now look to build on the momentum of their championship season as O’Bryant resumes his role. The team’s recent success has set high expectations for the 2026 season, with the program aiming to solidify its standing in Alabama high school football.
O’Bryant’s career head coaching record currently stands at 46-46 with an 8-4 mark in postseason play over eight seasons. Before leading the turnaround at Coosa Christian he had a two year stint as the head coach at Cleveland (14-9) from 2009 to 2010 and spent one season at Asheville (3-7) in 2012.
