MOULTRIE – Several times, Rush Propst tried and tried to get somebody he liked, whom he thought knew how to coach the game of high school football, as part of his coaching staff. Even if he goes back to his days at Hoover High, he’ll remember somebody he tried to hire and make that effort to lure him towards Colquitt County High.

That’s what he did in looking for his next tight ends coach. Buck Hanson spent 27 years coaching at his alma mater, Enterprise High in Alabama, and after retiring in that state’s system he continued to coach moving next door to Georgia. For the last two seasons, Hanson was on the staff at Lee County High School, and thus he was a part of the 2017 Class 6A state champion Trojans.

It wasn’t his first time enjoying championship victory. Hanson then made the move over to Moultrie, and he is officially a part of the Packer staff that will wrap up spring practice this morning. He’s also working alongside Propst’s longtime Packer offensive line coach Joey Bennett in helping get a stout group ready for what could be a major run in the upcoming fall campaign.

“It was unbelievable,” said Hanson thinking back not too long ago celebrating victory with Lee County. “Very lucky to be on that staff. Very lucky to be on this staff. Both situations are good staffs to work for.”

After playing football for Enterprise, Hanson played collegiately for Troy University. He was hired as Enterprise’s defensive coordinator and held that position for 12 seasons. The rest of the time was spent as running game coordinator. That was his position with Lee County.

“Enterprise is very historic,” said Hanson talking about his school. “Two state championships. Actually led the state in wins up until recently. I played under a coach who was a Hall of Fame coach. Love that place. It’s very dear to me.

“I have personally coached over 60 kids who’ve gone collegiately and four or five professionally. Last year I had one go to Florida from Lee County and another go to Florida A&M.”

One name to associate with Hanson from his high school coaching days would be T.J. Barnes, a 364-pound nose tackle who played at Georgia Tech, graduated in 2013 and has suited up for four NFL teams including the New York Jets.

“To get on this staff is surreal in a lot of ways,” said Hanson about becoming a part of Colquitt County football. Even though both he and Propst are from Alabama and are long-time parts of the high school lore there, they never stood on opposing sidelines other than in spring scrimmages, that according to Hanson.

“He was from the north and played for the state championship pretty regularly,” said Hanson. “We were from the south region. Back in 1982 we played W.A. Berry High School, but coach Propst wasn’t there then. It was Berry before it became Hoover, and we played for the state championship.

“His reputation precedes him. He and his staff are fantastic. Obviously the record, the wins. We run in a similar circle. I know a lot of the guys he’s helped and molded. Joey Bennett and Jeff Hammond (offensive coordinator), it’s a pleasure to work with those guys.”

Almost 30 years of high school coaching – being the head man or an assistant – will put one in close contact with hundreds of youngsters, maybe even a thousand give or take.

“Just go out and enjoy the game,” said Hanson about his message to those players. “Do the little things right, and the winning takes care of itself.

“I expect (the 2018 Packers) to not be any less than it always has been, a very competitive team that fights hard to make the community happy.”