Fulcher was born on February 9, 1934, at
University Hospital in
Augusta, Georgia, and he attended the
Academy of Richmond County, where he played football, baseball, and basketball. He also played football for one year at the
Darlington School in
Rome, Georgia. Fulcher enrolled at
Georgia Institute of Technology, where he played
college football for the
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets as a
walk-on. He became a starting
guard for the Yellow Jackets. Fulcher was not selected in the
1956 NFL draft, and he signed with the
Washington Redskins as a
free agent in May 1956 to play as a
linebacker. Fulcher retired from the NFL after one season to coach high school football, but returned in December 1957 due to a season-ending injury to
Tom Braatz. After the 1958 season, Fulcher became the
head coach of the football team at
Screven County High School in
Sylvania, Georgia, going 15–6–1. He next coached at Richmond, and then in 1963 became the freshman coach for Georgia Tech. He coached at
Waynesboro High School in 1964 and 1965, returned to Georgia Tech to coach linebackers and
defensive ends in 1966, and then spent 1967 and 1968 in business. In 1969, Fulcher returned to Georgia Tech as an aide, and then he was an assistant coach at the
University of Florida in 1970. He led the Spartans to a 6–5 record in the 1971 season. In Fulcher's first season with Georgia Tech, the team had a 7–4–1 record in the 1972 season, and defeated the
Iowa State Cyclones in the
1972 Liberty Bowl. The team finished ranked No. 20 by the
Associated Press poll. After the 1973 season, Fulcher resigned, saying that coaching was no longer enjoyable for him. He left Georgia Tech with a 12–10–1 record. ==Later career==