John Rushing, Head Baseball Coach (Senior Post 34)
Coach Rushing has been the head coach of Post 34 since 2000. During his ten seasons as the head coach, Post 34 has an overall record of 415-123-2. Post 34 has been in the championship game of the American Legion State Tournament seven out of the nine seasons. In 2009, Post 34 won the State Championship for the third straight season. It was the sixth championship in seven years for Post 34. Post 34 had it's most complete team in 2009, combining hitting, defense and pitching to a 50-8 record and a runner-up finish in the Southeast Regional. Post 34 went through the State Tournament undefeated. In the first game, Post 34 defeated Florence Post 11 by a score of 12-2 in a game shortened by the mercy rule. In game two of the tournament, Post 34 broke open a close game with Dothan Post 12 in the seventh inning by scoring runs on the way to a 13-5 victory. In the championship game, Post 34 would face it's rival, Dothan Post 12 again. In a game that came down to the last out, Post 34 prevailed with an 8-7 win. The 2009 team extended the record for most State Championships by a single legion post in Alabama. It was the 22nd State Championship for Post 34. Post 34 returned to the Southeast Regional Tournament that was held this year in Sumter, SC. Tuscaloosa opened the tournament with a 12-7 victory over Bradenton, FL. In one of the best games of the year, Post 34 rallied in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Rowan County, NC by a score of 8-7. In the third round, Post 34 won again but this time in the top of the ninth. Post 34 defeated Conyers, GA by a score of 7-4. Post 34 would then drop its next two games to Sumter, SC and Region Campion, Rowan County North Carolina who went onto finish third in the American Legion World Series. This was the third Regional Runner-up for Post 34 under Coach Rushing. The team also finished as a rummer up in 2003 & 2005. Coach Rushing was also an assistant coach on the 1997 Tuscaloosa Junior Post 34 team that won the State Championship and an assistant on the 1998 Senior Post 34 team.
Coach Rushing is in his fifth season as the Head Baseball Coach at Tuscaloosa Academy. In June 2006, he became the Athletic Director at TA along with his duties as baseball coach. From 2001 - 2004, Coach Rushing was the assistant baseball coach at Bevill State Community College in Fayette, Alabama. In his four seasons at BSCC, the team played in the State Championship game three times. In 2001 and 2003 Bevill State won the State/Regional Championship, finishing 6th nationally in 2001 and 3rd nationally in 2003. Following the 2004 season, Coach Rushing left Bevill to work full time as the Director of Youth Ministry at First United Methodist Church of Gordo, Alabama. After 11 years at various churches in the Tuscaloosa area and in Atlanta, Georgia, Coach Rushing left Youth Ministry for the full time position at Tuscaloosa Academy. In January of 2008, Coach Rushing returned to Gordo as one of the part time Youth Ministers.
Coach Rushing attended the University of Alabama after graduating from Tuscaloosa County High School. His parents are Johnny and Gail Rushing of Northport. His father was a member of the 1967 National Championship Post 34 team and also coach of the 1989 State Championship Post 34 team.
Patrick Jones, Assistant Coach
Chris Heritage, Scorekeeper
Frank Hannah, Athletic Officer
Scott Sullivan, General Manager
