Former Bradley Central and University of Alabama quarterback Steve Sloan died Sunday afternoon in Orlando at the age of 79.
Sloan, who served as UTC's athletic director from 2002-06, leaves behind Brenda, his wife of 55 years, and son Stephen Jr.
After earning all-state recognition for the Bears in football, basketball and golf, Sloan signed with Paul "Bear" Bryant's Crimson Tide. As a sophomore in 1963, he played behind Joe Namath but saw action as a defensive back, and when Namath was suspended for the Sugar Bowl that season, Sloan stepped in and guided Alabama to a 12-7 topping of Ole Miss to complete a 9-2 record.
In 1964, Sloan filled in at times for an injured Namath and helped the Crimson Tide win the second of Bryant's six national championships — the first came in 1961 — in Tuscaloosa. Bryant's third national crown occurred in 1965, when Sloan served as team captain and earned MVP honors following a 39-28 downing of Nebraska in the Orange Bowl.
Sloan was an academic All-American and an outspoken Christian, receiving hundreds of invitations to speak to youth throughout the state of Alabama during his time there. He became a founding member of the Alabama Fellowship of Christian Athletes in September 1964, and he was asked to deliver the scripture reading when evangelist Billy Graham spoke at Denny Stadium on April 26, 1965.
After playing for teams that earned invitations to one Sugar and two Orange bowls, Sloan was selected in the 11th round of the 1966 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons. That same draft had Alabama's top receiver, Ray Perkins, go in the seventh round to the Baltimore Colts.
Sloan was a Falcons backup quarterback for two years and then returned to Alabama as a Bryant assistant from 1968-70, also serving as golf coach in 1969. He quickly moved up the coaching ranks, becoming Florida State's offensive coordinator for the 1971-72 seasons and then Vanderbilt's head coach in 1973 at the age of 27.
His best season with the Commodores occurred in 1974, when he guided them to a 7-3-1 record before a 6-6 tie with Texas Tech in the Peach Bowl. He was the Southeastern Conference's coach of the year.
Sloan would move on to Texas Tech and led the Red Raiders to a 23-12 record from 1975-77, earning Southwest Conference coach of the year in 1976, and then it was time to return to the SEC with an opportunity at Ole Miss. He coached the Rebels from 1978-82 and then Duke from 1983-86 before turning to the world of college administration.
He replaced Perkins as Alabama's athletic director in 1987 and launched "Tide Pride," which became the most successful football donor program in the country and remains the primary financial resource for Alabama's athletic program today. In 1988, the upper deck on the east side of Bryant-Denny Stadium was expanded.
Sloan would serve as AD at North Texas State and Central Florida before coming to UTC, which would be his final job.
"I'm really glad to be home," Sloan said during his introductory news conference at UTC in April 2002. "I loved growing up in Cleveland, and this really brings back a lot of memories. It is a thrill for me to be here."
Sloan is an inductee in both the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
According to Wayne Atcheson, a former Alabama sports information director and a close friend of Sloan, funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.