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 made history as the first African American head football coach in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). This happened when he coached at Mississippi State University from 2004 to 2008.
His father, Sylvester Croom Sr., was also a great football player. He was an All-American at Alabama A&M. Later, he became the team chaplain at the University of Alabama. He is known as one of Alabama's civil rights pioneers. 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 Career Highlights
Croom grew up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He was a star player at Tuscaloosa High School. He played as a linebacker and tight end. In his senior year (1971), he was named the Outstanding Player.
College Football Success
He then played for Paul "Bear" Bryant at the University of Alabama. He played linebacker and tight end before becoming a center. In 1974, he was a senior captain. He won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy. Like his father, he earned All-American honors.
During his time at Alabama, the team won three SEC championships. These were from 1972 to 1974. They also won a national title in 1973. Croom's team had an amazing record of 32 wins and only 4 losses. They lost only one regular season game during that time. In 2022, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
NFL Experience
After college, Croom played one season in the NFL. He played for the New Orleans Saints. Then, he returned to the University of Alabama. This is where he began his coaching journey.
Coaching Journey
Before becoming a head coach at Mississippi State, Croom was an assistant coach. He worked at Alabama for 11 seasons. He coached under legendary coaches Bryant and Ray Perkins.
Early Coaching Years
He started as a graduate assistant coach. Then, he coached linebackers for ten more years. During these 11 years, Croom's teams played in ten bowl games. They won two national championships in 1978 and 1979. He also coached four players who later became first-round draft picks. These included Cornelius Bennett and Derrick Thomas.
NFL Coaching Roles
After Alabama, he spent 17 years coaching in the NFL. He was a running backs coach for several teams. These included Tampa Bay, Indianapolis, and Green Bay. From 1997 to 2000, he was the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. While with the San Diego Chargers, he was part of the staff for Super Bowl XXIX.
Becoming a Head Coach
In 2003, Croom was considered for the head coach job at the University of Alabama. However, the job went to Mike Shula. In 2004, an award at Alabama named after Sylvester Croom was changed. After many complaints from fans, it was changed back to its original name.
When Croom was hired at Mississippi State, the team faced many challenges. They had penalties from the NCAA. They also had not won many games since the 1990s. But Croom made history. He became the first African American head coach in the Southeastern Conference.
Success at Mississippi State
After the 2007 season, his team won eight games. They also won the Liberty Bowl. Croom received "Coach of the Year" awards from three groups. On December 4, 2007, he was named coach of the year by the American Football Coaches Association. The next day, he was named SEC Coach of the Year twice. This was voted by other SEC coaches and by The Associated Press. It was a big achievement for Mississippi State.
Later Coaching Years
After a 4–8 record in 2008, Croom resigned from Mississippi State. On February 2, 2009, he was hired by the St. Louis Rams. He coached their running backs. He later coached running backs for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2012. In 2013, he joined the Tennessee Titans. Croom retired from coaching in 2018. He had coached for over 40 years.
Education and Learning
Croom earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. He also had a minor in biology. He got this from the University of Alabama in 1975. He was only twenty years old. While he was a graduate student and coach there, he earned a master's degree. This was in educational administration in 1977.
First African American Head Coach in the SEC
Sylvester Croom's hiring as the first African American head football coach in the SEC was a historic moment.
Croom's View on His Role
Croom often said that being the first black head coach was important. But he focused more on being a good coach. He said he was proud of his heritage. But for him, the most important part was "the head coach part." He wanted to achieve his dream. 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."
He also said he was "just a guy trying to do the best job he can." He felt that the timing of his hiring put him in a special position. He didn't see himself as a "trailblazer."
Public Reactions and Recognition
Many people saw his hiring as very important. Julian Bond, chairman of the NAACP, praised Mississippi State. He noted that Mississippi was a state with a difficult civil rights history. He said it was "more than welcome" for the state to trust a black coach.
Bennie Thompson, a black member of Congress from Mississippi, also spoke out. He said it showed that Mississippi State cared more about winning than a coach's skin color.
In 2007, President George W. Bush recognized Croom. This was during Black History Month. President Bush praised Croom for "blazing trails." He called him a "strong leader and a fine man."
In 2008, Croom was featured on ESPN's "Say it Loud." This was a documentary for Black History Month. In it, he talked about why he chose Mississippi State. He also discussed how his race and the history of the region played a part.
In 2009, Croom reflected on his career. He said he had many chances to be the "first African-American in a lot of situations." He felt proud of this. He also acknowledged the sacrifices he made along the way.
Impact on Race Relations
Croom understood the deep meaning of his role. He was connected to the American South. In a 2004 interview, he said his position was about more than football. He believed it would help race relations in Mississippi. He also thought it would change how the rest of the country saw Mississippi. He said, "The place has changed a great deal... But they're about to find out."
His younger brother, Kelvin Croom, said their family chose to be motivated, not intimidated. They hoped to make a difference. He said, "We have made a difference, because the crosses have been taken down and the ropes have been put away." This refers to overcoming past racial challenges.
Head 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 | ||||||||
