For Immediate Release
November 20, 2013
AFCA
WACO, TEX. — Former Texas A&M University head coach R.C. Slocum has been named the 2014 recipient of the AFCA’s Amos Alonzo Stagg Award. The award, which honors those “whose services have been outstanding in the advancement of the best interests of football,” will be presented to Slocum at the AFCA Awards Luncheon onJanuary 14 during the 2014 AFCA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Slocum retired following the 2002 season with an impressive record of 123-47-2 over the course of 14 years at Texas A&M, making him the winningest coach in Texas A&M’s history. He also had assistant coaching stints at Kansas State and USC, as well. No team at Texas A&M that Slocum led ever experienced a losing season, and the Aggies won three bowl games in that time. Texas A&M made it to 10 bowl games under Slocum and won the Southwest Conference title three times and the Big XII title once.
“I’m so honored because of what the name ‘Amos Alonzo Stagg’ has meant to the coaching profession,” said Slocum. “It’s humbling to be recognized with all the great coaches who have won the award before me.”
Born on November 7, 1944, Slocum was born in Oakdale, La., and grew up in Orange, Texas, where he was an All-District player at Stark High School. Slocum went on to play at McNeese State in Lake Charles, La., as a tight end and defensive lineman. While there, he set receiving records and was a four-year letterman as a Cowboy. After receiving his undergraduate degree and masters in Education Administration, Slocum went on to coach at Lake Charles (La.) High School in 1968 and 1969. From there, he moved onto Kansas State University, where he was an assistant for the 1970-1971 seasons under Vince Gibson. It was in 1972 when Slocum found himself at the university that would define his career. Under Emory Bellard, and later Tom Wilson, Slocum worked at a variety of positions at Texas A&M, starting as a receivers coach before being moved to the other side of the ball as a defensive ends coach. After a brief stint as the linebackers coach for the Aggies, Slocum was the defensive coordinator for the 1979-1980 seasons. In 1981, he was hired on as defensive coordinator at USC, where his defense led the Pac-10. After his one season with the Trojans, Slocum returned to Texas A&M as the defensive coordinator from 1982-1988 under Jackie Sherrill. Slocum was named head coach of the Aggies in 1989, where he quickly had the team firing on all cylinders.
With Slocum at the reins, the Texas A&M Aggies enjoyed some of their most successful seasons in decades, culminating in three straight Southwest Conference titles in 1991 through 1993. It was Slocum’s famous “Wrecking Crew” defense that led the way for the Aggies through this time, leading the Southwest Conference in four defensive statistical categories and led the nation in total defense in 1991. To go along with the three straight conference titles, Slocum’s Aggies also had one of the greatest league winning streaks, winning 22 straight games and going 28-0-1 from 1991-94. After guiding the Aggies through the transition period between the Southwest Conference and the newly created Big XII Conference, Slocum racked up one last conference championship, defeating the favored and undefeated Kansas State Wildcats in 1998 and obtaining the conference’s Sugar Bowl berth. Slocum stepped down from coaching after the 2002 season and immediately stepped into the role of an advisor for the university that he had put so much into.
Players under Slocum achieved plenty of success in their college careers, as 14 players earned First Team All-America honors, including Bednarik and Lombardi Award winning linebacker Dat Nguyen in 1998.
He helped even more players find success at the next level, as 50 different Aggies moved on from their time at College Station to play in professional leagues.
Upon Slocum’s retirement, he has worked as a special advisor and assistant to Texas A&M’s presidents, most recently R. Bowen Loftin.
Since retiring from coaching, Slocum has done a multitude of charitable work, serving as the chairman of two organizations: the Children’s Miracle Network in Central Texas and the Cattle Barron’s Association, which raises scholarship money for young people in ranching. He has also helped with other organizations, such as the Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children, the Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo and the Special Olympics.
Slocum spent time as a Trustee for the American Football Coaches Association and currently serves as President for the American Football Coaches Foundation. He has been inducted into several Halls of Fame, including the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2006, the Texas A&M University Athletics Hall of Fame and, most recently, the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
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Travis Normand
by Travis Normand
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