R. C. Slocum
(1944)
R. C. Slocum is the winningest football coach in Texas A&M University's history. After his last season at A&M in 2002, his career record was 123-47-2. The 123 vistories in his first 14 years ranks eighth all-time and puts him in the company of coaching legends such as Barry Switzer (137), Tom Osborne (137), Steve Spurrier (132), Joe Paterno (131), LaVell Edwards (129), Amos Alonzo Stagg (128), and Bud Wilkerson (124).
Slocum won six chammpionships as head coach of the Aggies; three Southwest Conference titles, two Big 12 South Division titles, and the 1998 Big 12 Conference Championship. He was league Coach of the Year four times and was runner up for National Coach of the Year honors in 1994. His teams went to 11 bowl games. On ten occassions, the Aggies, under Slocum, finished ranked in the AP Top 25 and three times finished in the Top Ten. During Slocum's tenure, the Aggies were especially hard to beat at home where they won .854 of their games at Kyle Field. At home, the Aggies compiled 22 and 29 game winning streaks. In conference play, Texas A&M compiled a Southwest Conference record unbeaten streak of 29 games; four straight seasons without a loss. As Texas A&M closed out the Southwest Conference era, Slocum's winning percentage of .865 (44-6-2) was the best in league history besting the .797 percentage set by the legendary Darrel Royal of the University of Texas.
R.C. is a native of Orange, Texas where he was an All-District end at Stark High School. He attended college at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. There, he was a four year letterman and set school records for receiving as an end. Following his senior season he was named Most Valuable Lineman. R.C. Received his undergraduate degree from McNeese and was a member of Blue Key National Honor Fraternity. He also received a Master of Education Administration. In 2002, he was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus and in 2003 he was inducted into the McNeese Athletic Hall of Fame.
Lake Charles High School, in 1968 and 1969, was the first stop in Slocum's coaching career. From there he went to Kansas State University where he coached the 1970 and 1971 seasons. In 1972, Slocum started a long association with Texas A&M as an offensive assistant with new head coach Emory Bellard. In 1973, he moved over to the defensive side of the ball as a defensive ends coach. Later, he would move to coach the linebackers and become defensive coordinator for the 1979 and 1980 seasons. The next stop, in 1981, was the University of Southern California where he was the defensive coordinator under John Robinson. Slocum's defense led the Pac-10 Conference that year and the team played in the Fiesta Bowl. In 1982, Slocum returned to Texas A&M as defensive coordinator with new head coach Jackie Sherill. Prior to the 1985 season, Slocum was promoted to Assistant Head Coach. That season the Aggies led the Southwestern Conference in defense and won the conference championship. The 1985 conference championship was the first of three straight championships and the foundation of the reckless style of defensive play that earned the Texas A&M defence the nickname of the "Wrecking Crew."
In 1989, R.C. Slocum was named head football coach at Texas A&M University. He coached in the East/West Shrine All Star game, the Japan Bowl, and the Hula Bowl. Additinoally, he has been involved in many charities including the Children's Mircacle Network, the Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and the Special Olympics. Slocum has also served as a Trustee of the American Football Coaches Association and is currently the President of the American Football Coaches Foundation. Since 2002, he has served as a Special Advisor to the President of Texas A&M. In February 2006, Coach Slocum was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
Slocum is married to the former Nel Jennings and has two sons, Shawn Slocum, an assistant football coach with the Green Bay Packers and John Harvey Slocum, who is in the oil field services business. Nel has a son, Randy Jennings, who is a student at Texas A&M University.
Return to Sports Legends...