Steve Sloan - Coaching Career

Coaching Career

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

In 1973, Sloan took his first job as a head coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores. 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. The two teams played to a 6–6 tie in the game. 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, he took the job on January 2, 1975. Texas Tech was believed to have offered him a $30,000 per year contract, as well as $11,000 from television show income. He took five of his assistant coaches with him to the Red Raiders program, including defensive coordinator Bill Parcells. 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. 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. In his first season at Duke, Sloan led the Blue Devils to a 3–8 record, despite beginning the season 0–7. In his remaining three seasons, he compiled a 10–23 record before resigning. Steve Spurrier was named as his successor.