Steve Sloan

Stephen Charles Sloan (born August 19, 1944) is a former American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He played college football as a quarterback at the University of Alabama from 1962 to 1965 and then played for two seasons in the National Football League with the Atlanta Falcons (1966–1967). Sloan served as the head football coach at Vanderbilt University (1973–1974), Texas Tech University (1975–1977), the University of Mississippi (1978–1982), and Duke University (1983–1986), compiling a career record of 68–86–3. He also served as the athletic director at the University of Alabama, the University of North Texas, University of Central Florida, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga before his retirement in 2006.[1] In 2000, Sloan was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.[2]

Steve Sloan
Biographical details
Born (1944-08-19) August 19, 1944
Austin, Texas
Playing career
1962–1965Alabama
1966–1967Atlanta Falcons
Position(s)Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1968–1970Alabama (assistant)
1971Florida State (OC)
1972Georgia Tech (OC)
1973–1974Vanderbilt
1975–1977Texas Tech
1978–1982Ole Miss
1983–1986Duke
1990Vanderbilt (OC)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1987–1989Alabama
1991–1993North Texas
1993–2002UCF
2002–2006Chattanooga
Head coaching record
Overall68–86–3
Bowls0–2–1
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 SWC (1976)
Awards
Sammy Baugh Trophy (1965)
SEC Coach of the Year (1974)
SWC Coach of the Year (1976)

Early life

Steve Sloan was born in Austin, Texas on August 19, 1944 to C.L. "Preacher" and Virginia Byrd Sloan.[3] His father served in the U.S. Air Force, and the family moved regularly before settling in Cleveland, Tennessee in 1953.[3] Sloan attended Bradley Central High School where he was the quarterback on the football team, and also played baseball, basketball, and golf.[4] He graduated in 1962 with academic honors.[3] That year his school won state championships in football, basketball, and track.[4] While at Bradley, Sloan earned all-state honors in football and basketball and was named one of the top prep golfers in the state.[5]

Playing career

Sloan played college football at the University of Alabama under legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant between 1962–1965. He arrived in Tuscaloosa in 1962, though was not eligible to play with the varsity team due to NCAA rules at the time.[4] In his sophomore season, Sloan was a backup to quarterback Joe Namath, but played in most games at defensive back. Sloan quarterbacked the Tide's final regular season game and the Sugar Bowl when Bryant benched Namath for disciplinary reasons.[2] The 1963 Crimson Tide went 9–2 with a 12–7 victory over Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl.

Sloan was the primary quarterback in his junior season in 1964 while Namath was injured. The 1964 team finished 10–1, won the Southeastern Conference title, and was named the consensus national champion. However, in the 1965 Orange Bowl versus Texas, Sloan was forced out of the game with injury. Namath came off the bench to win MVP honors despite Alabama losing, 21–17.[6]

Following the departure of Namath to the American Football League, Sloan became Alabama's full-time starter for the 1965 season,[2][7] in which Alabama repeated as SEC and national champions. The team finished 9–1–1 with a 39–28 victory over Nebraska in the 1966 Orange Bowl.

After college, Sloan was selected by the NFL's Atlanta Falcons in the 11th round of the 1966 NFL Draft. He played sparingly as a back-up over the course of two seasons. In his brief NFL career, he only appeared in eight games, and only one as a starter. During those eight games, he completed 10 of 31 passes, for no touchdowns and four interceptions.[8]

Coaching career

In 1971, Sloan received his first coaching job as an offensive coordinator for the Florida State Seminoles.[9] The following year, he moved to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets for the same position.[9]

In 1973, Sloan took his first job as a head coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores.[10] In his first season, Vanderbilt finished at 5–6, including a 1–6 record in conference play. During his second season, however, Vanderbilt finished at 7–3–1 and qualified for a post-season bowl game. The team was placed in the Peach Bowl against the Texas Tech Red Raiders.[11] The two teams played to a 6–6 tie in the game.[12] It was Vanderbilt's first bowl game since 1955 and second in school history.

The Texas Tech University athletic department offered Sloan head football coaching position in January 1975. Though Sloan originally declined,[13][14] he took the job on January 2, 1975.[15] Texas Tech was believed to have offered him a US$30,000 per year contract, as well as $11,000 from television show income.[14] He took five of his assistant coaches with him to the Red Raiders program, including defensive coordinator Bill Parcells.[16] In his three seasons with Texas Tech, Sloan compiled a 23–12 record.

In late 1977, Sloan took his third head coaching job with the Ole Miss Rebels football program.[17] Sloan was head coach for five seasons at Ole Miss, winning 20 games, losing 34, and tying one. His best season came in 1978 when the Rebels finished at 5–6.

In December 1982, Sloan decided to leave Ole Miss to become the head football coach for the Duke Blue Devils football program.[18] In his first season at Duke, Sloan led the Blue Devils to a 3–8 record, despite beginning the season 0–7.[19] In his remaining three seasons, he compiled a 10–23 record before resigning. Steve Spurrier was named as his successor.[20]

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Vanderbilt Commodores (Southeastern Conference) (1973–1974)
1973 Vanderbilt 5–61–510th
1974 Vanderbilt 7–3–22–3–1T–7thT Peach
Vanderbilt: 12–9–23–8–1
Texas Tech Red Raiders (Southwest Conference) (1975–1977)
1975 Texas Tech 6–54–34th
1976 Texas Tech 10–27–1T–1stL Astro-Bluebonnet1313
1977 Texas Tech 7–54–4T–4thL Tangerine
Texas Tech: 23–1215–8
Ole Miss Rebels (Southeastern Conference) (1978–1982)
1978 Ole Miss 5–62–4T–7th
1979 Ole Miss 4–73–3T–5th
1980 Ole Miss 3–82–57th
1981 Ole Miss 4–6–11–5–19th
1982 Ole Miss 4–70–6T–9th
Ole Miss: 20–34–18–23–1
Duke Blue Devils (Atlantic Coast Conference) (1983–1986)
1983 Duke 3–83–4T–5th
1984 Duke 2–91–6T–7th
1985 Duke 4–72–5T–6th
1986 Duke 4–72–5T–6th
Duke: 13–318–20
Total:68–86–3
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

See also

References
  1. "Athletic director retires". The University Echo Online. February 9, 2006. Archived from the original on January 9, 2008. Retrieved September 20, 2008.
  2. Traughber, Bill (September 20, 2006). "The Commodore history corner". Vanderbilt University. Retrieved September 20, 2008.
  3. Ownbey, Gary (October 22, 2016). "Sloan stands alone as best Bear". Cleveland Daily Banner. Cleveland, Tennessee. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  4. Ownbey, Gary (October 24, 2016). "Sloan shined at Bama and beyond". Cleveland Daily Banner. Cleveland, Tennessee. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  5. "Steve Sloan Finally Coming Back Home". The Chattanoogan. Chattanooga, Tennessee. April 5, 2002. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  6. "NO. 1 TEAM HALTED ON ONE-FOOT LINE; Koy Scores Twice, Once on 79-Yard Dash -- Namath Is Brilliant in Defeat". New York Times. January 2, 1965.
  7. "University of Alabama official team statistics, 1965" (PDF). Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  8. "Steve Sloan". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  9. Holliman, Steve (December 21, 1977). "Sloan: taking the long road back to Alabama?". St. Petersburg Times. pp. C1.
  10. "Vanderbilt names Sloan head coach". The Washington Post. February 15, 1973. pp. H4.
  11. "Vanderbilt is named to play in Peach Bowl". Los Angeles Times. November 8, 1974. pp. D3.
  12. "Vandy's defense stiffens for tie in Peach Bowl". Chicago Tribune. December 29, 1974. pp. B9.
  13. "Texas Tech may name Sloan as new coach". Columbia Missourian. January 1, 1975.
  14. "Sloan eyes Texas Tech offer". St. Petersburg Times. January 1, 1975. pp. C2.
  15. "Sloan changes mind, accepts coaching job at Texas Tech". St. Petersburg Times. January 2, 1976. pp. C2.
  16. "Football coaches on the move". St. Petersburg Times. January 14, 1975. pp. C2.
  17. "Sloan leaves Texas Tech for Ole Miss". The Washington Post. December 2, 1977.
  18. "Bear retires from Alabama sidelines". Deseret News. December 16, 1982. pp. 2D. ... who just left the University of Mississippi for the head coaching job at Duke.
  19. "Coaching Records Game by Game: 1983". College Football DataWarehouse. Retrieved September 20, 2008.
  20. "Spurrier takes over for Sloan at Duke". San Jose Mercury News. January 23, 1987.

Further reading
  • Sloan, Steve; James C. Hefley (1967). Calling Life's Signals: The Steve Sloan Story. Zondervan Pub. House.
  • Sloan, Steve (1975). A Whole New Ball Game. Broadman Press. ISBN 0-8054-5559-0.
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