Spurrier Is Named Coach at Duke

Former Heisman Trophy winner and Tampa Bay Bandits coach Steve Spurrier, who was an assistant at Duke in the early 1980s, will return to the school as head football coach to succeed Steve Sloan.

Sloan resigned last week after four losing seasons to become athletic director at Alabama.

Spurrier said he was contacted about taking the job Thursday night by Duke Athletic Director Tom Butters. He said he “discussed it briefly” with his wife, Jerri, and took the job at the school where he served as offensive coordinator from 1980 through 1982.

Sloan’s teams went 3-8, 2-9, 4-7 and 4-7. Spurrier said he thought the talent was available to help Duke improve on those numbers. He said he would also be the team’s offensive coordinator and quarterback coach.