Dan Pitts may be better known as one of Georgia's and the nation's winningest coaches, but in Lincolnton he'll always be a Red Devil first.
Dan was born and raised in Lincolnton. During his high school days he was known as "Dancing Dan" Pitts as he played quarterback and was captain for the Devils in the early 1950's. He returned to Lincolnton in 1958 as an assistant coach before beginning his head coaching career at Mary Persons High School in Forsyth in 1959.
Dan and his family frequently visited his mother and friends in Lincolnton during the ensuing decades.
His Mary Persons' Bulldogs won 346 games before Dan's retirement in 1997. That record includes many region championships and a state AA title.
Dan has been seen at several Lincoln County games over the years.