23 Facts About Paul Dietzel

Paul Franklin Dietzel was an American college football player, coach, and athletics administrator.

Paul Dietzel served as the athletic director at South Carolina, Indiana University Bloomington, LSU, and Samford University.

Paul Dietzel began his football career in Mansfield, Ohio, where his high school team went undefeated and tied for second in the state.

Paul Dietzel was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 26th round of the 1948 NFL draft.

Paul Dietzel served under such legendary coaches as Red Blaik at Army and Bear Bryant at the University of Kentucky.

In 1958 Paul Dietzel came up with a unique three-team platoon system.

Paul Dietzel was the first non-Army graduate to hold the position.

Paul Dietzel stayed at Army until 1966, when he became head coach and athletic director at the University of South Carolina.

Paul Dietzel oversaw South Carolina's withdrawal from the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1971.

Paul Dietzel felt that the ACC's higher academic entrance requirements were preventing the South Carolina football program from signing talented players which could propel the program to national prominence.

Paul Dietzel liked it so much that he decided it should be the school's new fight song, and proceeded to write a new set of lyrics to the tune.

Later that season, the song, with Paul Dietzel's lyrics, made its debut as "The Fighting Gamecocks Lead the Way", which has been Carolina's fight song ever since.

Paul Dietzel designed the Fighting Gamecock logo which is still in use today.

Paul Dietzel left coaching in 1975 to become the commissioner of the Ohio Valley Conference for one year.

Paul Dietzel then served as athletic director at Indiana University before returning to LSU in 1978.

Paul Dietzel was the school's athletic director from 1978 to 1982.

Paul Dietzel served as president of the American Football Coaches Association and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Paul Dietzel came out of retirement in 1983 to become Athletics Director at Samford University.

Paul Dietzel resigned in 1985 following the dismissal of Head Football Coach Kim Alsop over his objections.

Paul Dietzel lived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with his wife, Anne, until his death.

Paul Dietzel authored a book, Call Me Coach: A Life in College Football, that was published in September 2008 by the Louisiana State University Press.

Paul Dietzel died on September 24,2013, nineteen days after his 89th birthday.

Paul Dietzel's namesake grandson, Paul Dietzel, II, of Baton Rouge was a Republican candidate for the open seat from Louisiana's 6th congressional district in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on November 4,2014.