Rusty Oliver no longer the Columbus girls soccer coach

Rusty Oliver is no longer the Columbus High girls soccer coach, the Muscogee County School District confirmed to the Ledger-Enquirer on Thursday.

Oliver coached the Lady Blue Devils for 17 seasons, leading them to 255 wins and three trips to the state championship game. Columbus lost to McIntosh in the Class 5A state championship this season. It was runner-up three times, but never won a title.

He earned his 250th career win in a 5-1 victory over Northside this year.

Oliver took over the program in 2000. In an interview with the Ledger-Enquirer during the team’s 2016 season, Oliver called the program an “abandoned child” when he took over. He couldn’t schedule games with premier programs because Columbus was still in its infancy.

Over time, the program improved. It went to the Class 3A state championship game in 2012, the Class 4A title game in 2013 and the Class 5A game this past season.

Also, many of the teams Columbus was unable to schedule early in Oliver’s tenure agreed to play the Lady Blue Devils as time passed. This season, Columbus played one of the hardest schedules in the state, with non-region games against Whitewater, McIntosh, Woodward Academy, Grady, Marist, Parkview, Allatoona, East Coweta and Blessed Trinity, among others.

Oliver declined comment on the coaching change in a message to the Ledger-Enquirer. The school has not be reached for further details.

Oliver remains employed at the school as a science teacher.

This story was originally published June 30, 2016 at 3:27 PM with the headline "Rusty Oliver no longer the Columbus girls soccer coach."