First African-American head football coach in the sec - Speaking Of People - Brief Article - Biography

SYLVESTER CROOM, a former All-American center at the University of Alabama in the '70s, had his name etched into the history books when he was recently named head football coach at Mississippi State University, making him the first Black coach to take the reins of a football team in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), which has had a history of racial polarization. The selection of the 49-year-old, who had a brief career in the NFL as a player, came after he was passed over a few months ago for the top job at Alabama in favor of Mike Shula, who is White. Croom has been an assistant coach for five NFL teams, with his last assignment as running backs coach for the Green Bay Packers. His hiring at the Starkville, Miss., university makes him the fifth active African-American head football coach among the 117 schools in NCAA Division 1-A. "I am, in a lot of ways, the recipient of the sacrifices that other people made," Croom says. "I realize that it [the hiring] is not my doing. I'm just the one who's reaping the benefits." The Bulldogs' new coach earned a bachelor's degree in history at Alabama and later received a master's in educational administration. He and his wife, Jearline, have one daughter, Jennifer.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group