Shelton Felton, who led Valdosta’s football team through spring practices this month as acting head coach, will be the interim coach for the 2021 season, Valdosta City Schools superintendent Todd Cason announced in a release after Tuesday’s school board meeting that unanimously approved the move.
That signals the end of Rush Propst’s controversial one-year tenure that resulted in the football team being banned from the 2021 playoffs and forfeits seven 2020 victories. The Georgia High School Association alleged that Propst had committed recruiting violations.
Felton joined Valdosta’s staff this year after being dismissed at Tennessee. Felton was an assistant to Propst at Colquitt County, then led alma mater Crisp County to a historic 13-1 finish and Class 3A semifinal appearance in 2016 that helped launched his college career that included stops at UT-Chattanooga and Akron.
’'We would like to thank Coach Felton for stepping up and making this transition a smooth one for the more than 160 young men who participated in spring practice,’' Cason said in a release. “Even though there has been a flurry of national attention, he has established a steady and promising routine for our players and we truly appreciate his noticeable efforts.’'
Cason said that Valdosta City Schools will conduct ’'a nationwide search’' for a permanent coach after the 2021 season and that Felton can apply to be a candidate.
Valdosta reached the Class 6A semifinals last season. Four rising seniors from that team, including the starting quarterback and an all-state wide receiver, are ineligible in the aftermath of GHSA sanctions that included $7,500 in fines.
The school board voted not to renew Propst’s contract, but three board members supported his return. Valdosta called another meeting to reconsider Propst’s contract termination, raising speculation that a majority might overturn the decision, but the meeting was canceled days later.
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