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Former Alabama QB Steve Sloan passes away at age 79

1918632_10206777287683070_1367905321192383146_nby:Charlie Potter•04/15/24•

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Former Alabama QB Steve Sloan
Steve Sloan (Courtesy of the Paul W. Bryant Museum)

Former Alabama quarterback Steve Sloan passed away Sunday in Orlando, Florida.

Sloan, 79, was in memory care for the past three months at Orlando Health Phillips Hospital before his death, according to an obituary written by former UA sports information director Wayne Atcheson. Sloan had lived in central Florida with his wife during his retirement. 

Born in Austin, Texas, he played for the Crimson Tide from 1962-65 and was the quarterback for the 1964 and 1965 Alabama football teams that won national championships. Sloan started over an injured Joe Namath during the 1964 season, which saw the Tide post a 10-1 record and win the Southeastern Conference title. The next year, after Namath moved on to the NFL, Sloan led Alabama to a 9-1-1 mark and back-to-back SEC and national titles.

After his college career, Sloan was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the 11th round of the 1966 NFL Draft. He appeared in eight games as a professional, with one start, before retiring.

Sloan began his coaching career the following year in 1968 at his alma mater. His three years back at Alabama were the only three he spent not as a coordinator or head coach. Sloan went on to be the offensive coordinator at Florida State in 1971 and then at Georgia Tech in 1972 before he landed his first head coaching position at Vanderbilt from 1973-74.

Sloan would go on to serve as the head coach at Texas Tech (1975-77), Ole Miss (1978-82) and Duke (1983-86). He posted an overall record of 68-86-3 but had a winning record at Vanderbilt (12-9-2) and Texas Tech (23-12). Following his stint at Duke, he returned to Alabama, this time as the athletic director from 1987-89. It was his last stop in Tuscaloosa. 

Sloan coached again at Vanderbilt for one more year as the offensive coordinator in 1990 before returning to an AD role. His administrative career continued in 1991 when he spent three years at North Texas. The longest stop was at the University of Central Florida for 10 years (1993-2002). His last job was as the AD at Chattanooga from 2002-06.

Sloan won the Sammy Baugh Trophy in 1965 as the top passer in college football. He was also a two-time Second Team All-SEC honoree in 1964-65 and was the SEC Coach of the Year at Vanderbilt in 1974. In 1976, he was named the SWC Coach of the Year at Texas Tech.

Sloan and his wife, Brenda, retired to Orlando in 2006.

*** This story will be updated.

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