Sylvester Croom

Sylvester Croom

Sylvester Croom (aka Slytanic) (born September 25, 1954) is the football head coach at Mississippi State University. He is the first African American head football coach in the Southeastern Conference.

Playing career

Croom, a native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, starred at Tuscaloosa High School as a linebacker and tight end. He then played center for Bear Bryant at the University of Alabama where he earned Kodak All-American honors in 1974.

He played one season in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints.

Coaching career

Before coaching at Mississippi State, Croom was an assistant at Alabama for 11 seasons; he then spent 17 years in the professional ranks at Tampa Bay, Indianapolis, San Diego, Detroit, and Green Bay. He served as offensive coordinator for the Lions from 1997-2000.

He was in the running for the position of Alabama head coach in 2003, but the job ultimately went to Mike Shula. In March 2004, Alabama's Sylvester Croom Commitment to Excellence Award, given annually to an outstanding player for 16 years, was changed to the Bart Starr Commitment to Excellence Award, reportedly at Shula's request. The award has since been changed back and has Croom's name attached. Shula originally changed the award because he did not want an award named for a rival coach. After complaints by alumni and fans, the award was changed back to its original name.

Sylvester Croom has the worst record of any multi-year coach in Mississippi State history. This is part of the reason for him being referred to as "Slytanic". He also loves the West Coast offense. Or as it is formally called the Post Katrina Gulf Coast Offense.

Head Coaching Record

Team	Year	Wins	Losses
Mississippi State	2004	3	8
Mississippi State	2005	3	8
Mississippi State	2006	1	4
Total	2+ years	7	20

References

• "Sylvester Croom - Head Football Coach". Retrieved 2005-12-14.
• "Bama's decision to erase Croom stinks".