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Former Duke Head Coach Steve Sloan Passes Away
4/15/2024 2:30:00 PM | Football
DURHAM – Steve Sloan, who served as Duke's head football coach for four seasons from 1983-86, passed away on Sunday in Orlando, Fla., at the age of 79.
Hired on December 8, 1982, to replace Shirley "Red" Wilson, Sloan guided the Blue Devils to a four-year overall record of 13-31 (.295) with an ACC ledger of 8-20 (.400). He departed Duke following the 1986 season to become the Athletic Director at his alma mater, the University of Alabama, and was succeeded by Steve Spurrier.
While with the Blue Devils, Sloan coached three All-America selections in quarterback Ben Bennett, center Phil Ebinger and linebacker Mike Junkin. Bennett was the 1983 ACC Player of the Year and graduated as the NCAA's all-time leader in passing yardage while Ebinger co-captained Sloan's first Duke squad and earned third team All-America accolades from Football News. Junkin, a two-time All-America choice in 1985 and 1986 and Duke's all-time leader in tackles with 513, was a first-round pick (No. 5 overall) of the Cleveland Browns in the 1987 NFL Draft.
Duke had six All-ACC picks (Bennett, Ebinger, Junkin, wide receiver Mark Militello, running back Mike Grayson, and tight end Scott Russell) in the Sloan Era. In addition, Sloan coached defensive back Mike Diminick, who is the lone three-time first team Academic All-America selection in Duke football history, and wide receiver Clarkston Hines, who played in 11 games as a freshman in 1986 before becoming an All-American (1988-89), ACC Player of the Year (1989) and College Football Hall of Fame inductee (2010).
Prior to his tenure at Duke, Sloan served as the head football coach at Vanderbilt (1973-74; 12-9-2 overall record), Texas Tech (1975-77; 23-12) and Ole Miss (1978-82; 20-34-1). In 14 total seasons as a head coach, Sloan amassed a career record of 68-86-3 (.443) with three bowl game appearances. His best season came in 1976 when he guided Texas Tech to a 10-2 overall mark, a share of the Southwest Conference championship, a berth in the Bluebonnet Bowl (27-24 loss to Nebraska) and final national ranking of No. 13 by the Associated Press. He twice earned conference coach of the year honors in 1974 (Southeastern Conference) and 1976 (Southwest Conference).
A native of Cleveland, Tenn., Sloan played quarterback at Alabama under Hall of Fame head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant and was a member of consecutive national championship teams in 1964 and 1965. As a senior in 1965, Sloan garnered All-America honors and was the MVP of the Orange Bowl following Alabama's 39-28 win over Nebraska. He also twice received Academic All-America accolades. After a brief career in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons, he served as an assistant coach at Alabama, Florida State and Georgia Tech before taking the head coach position at Vanderbilt prior to the 1973 season.
Following his administrative tenure at Alabama, Sloan served stints as the Athletic Director at North Texas State, the University of Central Florida and Tennessee-Chattanooga. He is a member of both the Alabama and Tennessee Sports Halls of Fame.
Sloan is survived by his wife of 55 years Brenda Faw Sloan and son Stephen, Jr. He was preceded in death by his son Jonathan, parents C.L. and Virginia Byrd Sloan and stepmother Samye Jean Phillips Sloan.
#GoDuke
Hired on December 8, 1982, to replace Shirley "Red" Wilson, Sloan guided the Blue Devils to a four-year overall record of 13-31 (.295) with an ACC ledger of 8-20 (.400). He departed Duke following the 1986 season to become the Athletic Director at his alma mater, the University of Alabama, and was succeeded by Steve Spurrier.
While with the Blue Devils, Sloan coached three All-America selections in quarterback Ben Bennett, center Phil Ebinger and linebacker Mike Junkin. Bennett was the 1983 ACC Player of the Year and graduated as the NCAA's all-time leader in passing yardage while Ebinger co-captained Sloan's first Duke squad and earned third team All-America accolades from Football News. Junkin, a two-time All-America choice in 1985 and 1986 and Duke's all-time leader in tackles with 513, was a first-round pick (No. 5 overall) of the Cleveland Browns in the 1987 NFL Draft.
Duke had six All-ACC picks (Bennett, Ebinger, Junkin, wide receiver Mark Militello, running back Mike Grayson, and tight end Scott Russell) in the Sloan Era. In addition, Sloan coached defensive back Mike Diminick, who is the lone three-time first team Academic All-America selection in Duke football history, and wide receiver Clarkston Hines, who played in 11 games as a freshman in 1986 before becoming an All-American (1988-89), ACC Player of the Year (1989) and College Football Hall of Fame inductee (2010).
Prior to his tenure at Duke, Sloan served as the head football coach at Vanderbilt (1973-74; 12-9-2 overall record), Texas Tech (1975-77; 23-12) and Ole Miss (1978-82; 20-34-1). In 14 total seasons as a head coach, Sloan amassed a career record of 68-86-3 (.443) with three bowl game appearances. His best season came in 1976 when he guided Texas Tech to a 10-2 overall mark, a share of the Southwest Conference championship, a berth in the Bluebonnet Bowl (27-24 loss to Nebraska) and final national ranking of No. 13 by the Associated Press. He twice earned conference coach of the year honors in 1974 (Southeastern Conference) and 1976 (Southwest Conference).
A native of Cleveland, Tenn., Sloan played quarterback at Alabama under Hall of Fame head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant and was a member of consecutive national championship teams in 1964 and 1965. As a senior in 1965, Sloan garnered All-America honors and was the MVP of the Orange Bowl following Alabama's 39-28 win over Nebraska. He also twice received Academic All-America accolades. After a brief career in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons, he served as an assistant coach at Alabama, Florida State and Georgia Tech before taking the head coach position at Vanderbilt prior to the 1973 season.
Following his administrative tenure at Alabama, Sloan served stints as the Athletic Director at North Texas State, the University of Central Florida and Tennessee-Chattanooga. He is a member of both the Alabama and Tennessee Sports Halls of Fame.
Sloan is survived by his wife of 55 years Brenda Faw Sloan and son Stephen, Jr. He was preceded in death by his son Jonathan, parents C.L. and Virginia Byrd Sloan and stepmother Samye Jean Phillips Sloan.
#GoDuke
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