He achieved the rank of sergeant, but was wounded on the Island of Tinian, having been shot multiple times in both calves, and was rushed to medical care.

He had begun walking around the hospital on his hands in his free time, and pushed himself hard in physical therapy, that he soon regained his strength.

He was a high school coach in Alabama, then in college at Tennessee Tech, Kentucky, and LSU before moving into the professional ranks with the Detroit Lions.

In his first regular season game, the Saints were embarrassed at Tulane Stadium by the rival Atlanta Falcons 62–7.

North led the Saints into the Louisiana Superdome in 1975, but was fired on October 27 following a 38–14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams which left the team 1–5.