David "Bucky" Pitts grew up in Tennessee before being drafted into the U.S. Navy following high school.

After returning to his studies, Pitts was a small college All-American at Middle Tennessee State, leading the team in rushing, receiving, interceptions and kickoff returns as a senior in 1959.

Pitts first coaching job came at Central High School in Fayetteville, Tennessee. Central had lost every game the previous season but under Pitts turned it around with a 5-5 campaign that first season. In six seasons his teams finished 47-12-10. His 1961 team won the Tennessee State Championship.

His next stop was at Putman County High School in Cookeville, TN. He spent three years there and his first team included Watson Brown at quarterback and his brother, Mack Brown at running back. Putman County won a state championship in 1967, his second year with the program. Coach Pitts teams finished 22-6-2 over his three years at the school.

In 1969 he accepted the head coaching job at Hartselle where he stayed for the next eleven seasons. His 1979 team finished the season 10-1 before losing in the first round of the playoffs. Pitts compiled a 70-38-4 record at Hartselle and only had one team that finished a season with a losing record.

Guntersville High lured him away to coach its program. He led the program there until retiring in 1992.

Pitts' football coaching record in Alabama is 125-100-4 with eight playoff appearances. Combined with his Tennessee record, Coach Pitts retired with a 174-118-16 record. He is a member of the Morgan County Sports Hall of Fame, being elected in 2003.