Oct. 2, 2009
By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - When Steve Sloan arrived at UCF in 1993, the Knights' football program was just a few years removed from competing at the Division II level. With support from UCF President Dr. John C. Hitt, Sloan spent the next nine years as the school's director of athletics, striving to take the program to the next level.
On Saturday when the Knights take on Memphis, Sloan, and his wife, will be recognized for their contributions to UCF when the Bright House Networks Stadium interview room is officially named the Steve and Brenda Sloan Media Room. The naming dedication was made possible through a generous contribution from UCF Board of Trustees member Phyllis Klock and her husband, David. Sloan, who currently resides in Orlando, is appreciative that his impact at UCF prompted the honor.
"We are deeply honored to be remembered in that way. We loved working at UCF. It was great... the whole time. We are very grateful for David and Phyllis Klock for making this possible," he said.
During his time at UCF, Sloan was instrumental in the Knights' move to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 1996. In his final year in Orlando before taking the director of athletics job at Chattanooga, he helped the school secure a spot in the Mid-American Conference for football.
Sloan, who will be attending a game at Bright House Networks Stadium for the first time Saturday, credits Hitt for the growth of the UCF athletics program.
"I really would have to give a lot of the credit to Dr. Hitt," Sloan said. "When we were there and trying to figure out how to go from I-AA to I-A, he had a vision that as the school grew, the athletics department needed to grow. The two could grow in tandem. Any idea that we had in achieving that goal, he was all for it. If he had been hesitant, it would not have been able to happen. I really, truly believe that he deserves much of the credit."
Sloan arrived at UCF with a diverse coaching and administrative background. In the 1960s, he was an All-America quarterback at Alabama. He served as an assistant coach at his alma mater and was the head coach at several schools, including Duke, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. In 1973, he led Vanderbilt to the Peach Bowl. Later, he served as the director of athletics at North Texas.
The Steve and Brenda Sloan Media Room is used for postgame interviews, weekly press conferences and as a studio for several UCF athletics television programs. The room is located on the south side of the stadium, between Gates 15 and 16.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.