Steve Sloan, a former collegiate coach and administrator who played quarterback and served as Alabama’s athletic director, died at the age of 79, according to his close friend Tommy Limbaugh.
Sloan died on Sunday at Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital in Florida, surrounded by his wife, Brenda Faw Sloan, according to Limbaugh.
Sloan led Alabama to the 1965 national championship after taking over for Joe Namath, earning most valuable player honors in an Orange Bowl victory against Nebraska.
Sloan coached Vanderbilt for two seasons and was Southeastern Conference coach of the year in 1974 before leaving to take over the Texas Tech program. He also had head coaching stints at Mississippi and Duke and finished his coaching career as Vandy’s offensive coordinator in 1990.
“You will never find anybody that says anything bad about Steve Sloan,” Limbaugh said. “You can’t find that person.”
A consensus All-American, Sloan was also named the SEC’s most valuable player in the 1965 season and won the Sammy Baugh Trophy as the nation’s best passer.
He worked as athletic director at Alabama, North Texas, Central Florida and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
He is survived by his wife and his son Stephen Jr. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.
