Oliver “Buddy” Pough, born in Orangeburg, South Carolina, in 1953, grew up in the Great Branch area and began his football journey at Felton Laboratory before enrolling at Orangeburg High School. It was there that he met Dick Sheridan, the varsity football coach who would influence his future in coaching. After high school, Pough played offensive lineman at South Carolina State University, where he was recruited by coach Oree Banks. Under the guidance of Willie Jeffries, who replaced Banks during Pough’s junior year, the Bulldogs achieved a 15-7-1 record and a league championship in his final two seasons.

After finishing his playing career, Pough pursued coaching and joined the staff at South Carolina State as an undergraduate assistant while completing his teaching credentials. He later became the offensive line coach at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School, where he also assisted with the baseball team. Pough’s coaching career flourished, leading to a 21-year tenure at South Carolina State, where he became the school’s all-time winningest coach. Over his career, Pough compiled a 146-87 overall record and a 112-42 mark in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). He won three MEAC titles outright and shared five others, as well as leading his teams to four Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoff appearances.

Pough’s coaching legacy is marked by several impressive achievements, including eight MEAC titles, two Black College Football National Championships, and a MEAC record 21-game conference winning streak. In 2021, he captured his first Celebration Bowl Championship by defeating top-ranked Jackson State, securing his fifth HBCU National Crown. His impact on the South Carolina State program is undeniable, with 15 winning seasons and three MEAC Coach of the Year awards. Pough’s legacy as one of the top coaches in the MEAC and HBCU football history is firmly established, and he remains a pivotal figure in the football community.

Photo Courtesy of South Carolina State Athletics