"There's not a harder working guy in the world than Doc Holliday." says Putnam County Sheriff, and former Winfield High football coach, Mark Smith.

Smith says he still recalls a young Doc Holliday coming to the weight room to work out.

"He came to our weight room with myself and Coach McCoy and worked out with us and the rest is history." says Smith.

Holliday was quick to bring up that memory Thursday at his press conference as he accepted the job as head football coach at Marshall.

"I used to go over and work out with his (Coach McCoy's) teams even though I played at Hurricane. That's the kinda guy he was. Then I'd go back over to Hurricane and kick his butt." laugs Holliday.

Holliday has strong ties throughout Putnam County. He graduated from Hurricane in 1975 and made a name for himself in more than just football.

"His senior year he was a state championship wrestler." points out his mother, Sally Holliday.

Holliday's mother says her son dreamed of playing football at West Virginia when he was a teenager, but he's glad to coach closer to home.

"We'll always back West Virginia after our experience with it, but Marshall is here and our heart will be at Marshall." says Sally.

Two of holliday's sons have attended WVU -- his daughter NC State -- and his other son will be playing in the sugar bowl with the Florida Gators in January.

What do all of those schools have in common?

Doc has coached at every one of them.

"He hasn't forgotten his friends here and I think it was a strong draw to return to your roots." says Sally.