The trolling motor system includes a chassis adapted to be coupled to a boat, a housing pivotally coupled to the chassis, a lower propulsion unit, at least one shaft supported by the housing and coupled to the lower propulsion unit at a first end and a drive system including at least one actuator. The at least one shaft extends along a first axis. The first end is movable relative to the housing along the first axis. The drive system includes at least one actuator, a linear drive, a pivot drive and a coupler. The linear drive moves the first end of the first shaft along the first axis while the pivot drive pivots the housing about a second axis. The coupler connects the actuator and the pivot drive to pivot the housing. In one embodiment, the coupler connects the actuator and the pivot drive based upon the position of the at least one shaft along the first axis. In one embodiment, the system includes a foot control operator interface and a control circuit coupled to the operator interface and the linear drive. The control circuit generates control signals based upon input from the operator's foot which cause the linear drive to linearly move the at least one shaft. In one embodiment, the at least one shaft includes an inner shaft coupled to the lower propulsion unit and an outer shaft receiving the inner shaft.