Longtime South Carolina State head football coach Buddy Pough is hanging up his whistle at the end of this season. According to the Times and Democrat newspaper in Orangeburg, Pough informed the team of his plan following Thursday morning’s practice in preparation for Saturday’s season opener against Jackson State in Atlanta.
“I wanted to let you all know before the season got underway,” an emotional Pough told the Bulldogs. “No one is running me off. It’s my decision. When you have done something for 47 years, it’s a bit tough to give it up but it’s time. I will be all right. I’ve had a great ride here at S.C. State and I will continue to care about each one of you the rest of my days. Now, let’s go out and have a good season.”
Pough, the all-time winningest coach in SC State history, has compiled a 146-87 overall record in his twenty-two seasons at SC State. In posting a 112-42 conference mark, the veteran head coach has won eight outright or shared titles in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, defeating the Deion Sanders-led Jackson State Tigers 31-10 in the 2021 Celebration Bowl. He also helped develop Darius Leonard and Javon Hargrave into future NFL Pro Bowlers.
His predecessor, Willie Jeffries, was by his side when Pough announced his decision at the Orangeburg Touchdown Club’s meeting on Thursday.
