Sylvester Croom facts for kids
Croom at Tennessee Titans training camp in 2014
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| No. 51 | |
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| Position: | Center |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | September 25, 1954 Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 235 lb (107 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Tuscaloosa |
| College: | Alabama (1972–1974) |
| Undrafted: | 1975 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
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| As coach: | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Head coaching record | |
| Postseason: | 1–0 (college) |
| Career: | 21–38 (college) |
| Player stats at PFR | |
| Coaching stats at PFR | |
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Sylvester Croom Jr. (born September 25, 1954) is a former American football player and coach. He was the head coach at Mississippi State University from 2004 to 2008. He made history as the first African American head football coach in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
His father, Sylvester Croom Sr., was also a great football player. He was recognized for his work in civil rights in Alabama. After coaching at Mississippi State, Croom Jr. worked as a running backs coach for three teams in the National Football League (NFL).
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Playing Football
Sylvester Croom grew up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. In high school, he was a star player, playing as a linebacker and tight end. He was named the best player in his senior year, 1971.
He then played for the University of Alabama under famous coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. He played as a center. In 1974, he was a team captain and won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy. This award goes to the best blocker in the SEC. Like his father, he was named an All-American. This means he was one of the best college players in the country.
During his time at Alabama, his team won three SEC championships from 1972 to 1974. They also won a national championship in 1973. Croom's team had an amazing record of 32 wins and only 4 losses. He was added to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2022.
After college, he played one season in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints. Then, he returned to the University of Alabama to start his coaching career.
Coaching Teams
Before becoming a head coach at Mississippi State, Croom was an assistant coach at Alabama for 11 years. He worked under coaches Bryant and Ray Perkins. During this time, he helped the team reach ten bowl games. They also won two national championships in 1978 and 1979. He coached four players who later became top picks in the NFL draft.
He then spent 17 years coaching in the NFL. He was a running backs coach for teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, and Green Bay Packers. From 1997 to 2000, he was the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. He was also part of the Chargers' staff when they played in Super Bowl XXIX.
In 2003, Croom was considered for the head coach job at the University of Alabama. However, the job went to Mike Shula. An award at Alabama, the Sylvester Croom Commitment to Excellence Award, was briefly changed. But after many complaints from fans, it was changed back to its original name.
When Croom became the head coach at Mississippi State, the team was facing challenges. They had not won many games in a while. More importantly, Croom became the first African American head coach in the history of the Southeastern Conference.
Coach of the Year Awards
After the 2007 season, his team won eight games, including the Liberty Bowl. Croom received several Coach of the Year awards. On December 4, 2007, he was named Coach of the Year for his region by the American Football Coaches Association. The next day, he was named SEC Coach of the Year twice. This was voted on by other SEC coaches and by The Associated Press. It was a big honor for him and Mississippi State.
After a tough 2008 season, Croom decided to step down as the Bulldogs' coach.
Later NFL Coaching
On February 2, 2009, Croom was hired by the St. Louis Rams as their running backs coach. He stayed with the Rams until the end of the 2011 season.
In 2013, Croom joined the Tennessee Titans as their running backs coach. He coached there until 2016. After more than 40 years of coaching, Croom decided to retire in 2018.
Education and Learning
Croom earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Alabama in 1975. He also studied biology. While working as a coach and graduate student there, he earned a master's degree in educational administration in 1977.
First African American Head Coach in the SEC
Sylvester Croom's hiring as the first African American head coach in the SEC was a very important moment.
His Thoughts on the Role
Croom often said that being the first African American head coach was not just about him. He was proud of his heritage, but he focused on doing his best as a head coach. He famously said, "I am the first African-American coach in the SEC, but there ain't but one color that matters here, and that color is maroon." Maroon is Mississippi State's team color.
He saw himself as someone trying to do a good job. He felt that his hiring at that time put him in a special position.
Public Reactions
Many people saw his hiring as a big step forward. Julian Bond, who led the NAACP, said it was "more than welcome" for Mississippi State to hire a Black coach. This was especially meaningful because Mississippi has a history of civil rights challenges.
Bennie Thompson, a Black member of Congress from Mississippi, said it showed that Mississippi State cared more about winning than about the coach's race. He also noted that there was still more work to be done by other schools.
In 2007, President George W. Bush recognized Croom during Black History Month. The President praised Croom for "blazing trails" as the first African American coach in the SEC.
In 2008, Croom was featured in an ESPN documentary for Black History Month. He talked about why he chose to coach at Mississippi State. He also discussed how his race and the history of race relations in the South played a part.
In 2009, Croom said that it just happened that he was often the first African American in many coaching situations. He felt proud of this and the sacrifices he made.
His Views on Fairness
Croom's views on race in college football were not always simple. In 2003, after not getting the head coach job at Alabama, he wondered if race was a factor. He felt that many schools would hire Black players and assistant coaches, but not as head coaches.
He had a lot of support from former players and fans at Alabama. But he was surprised when the job went to someone with less coaching experience. After this, Rev. Jesse Jackson called for an investigation into hiring practices in the SEC. Croom supported Jackson's actions, saying that Jackson was a voice for many people.
Impact on the South
Croom believed his role had a bigger meaning for the American South. In a 2004 interview, he said, "There's much more at stake here than football." He thought his position would help improve race relations in Mississippi. He also believed it would change how the rest of the country viewed the state.
He remembered his own experiences growing up during integration. He spoke about how his family chose to be motivated, not intimidated. They hoped to make a difference, and they did.
Coaching Record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi State Bulldogs (Southeastern Conference) (2004–2008) | |||||||||
| 2004 | Mississippi State | 3–8 | 2–6 | 6th (Western) | |||||
| 2005 | Mississippi State | 3–8 | 1–7 | T–5th (Western) | |||||
| 2006 | Mississippi State | 3–9 | 1–7 | 6th (Western) | |||||
| 2007 | Mississippi State | 8–5 | 4–4 | T–3rd (Western) | W Liberty | ||||
| 2008 | Mississippi State | 4–8 | 2–6 | T–4th (Western) | |||||
| Mississippi State: | 21–38 | 10–30 | |||||||
| Total: | 21–38 | ||||||||
