The last time Texas Tech won an outright conference championship was in 1976 as members of the Southwest Conference. The head coach for that team was a young, offensive-minded upstart named Steve Sloan. He led the Red Raiders to a 10-win season in 1976 with Bill Parcells as defensive coordinator. Sloan was 23-12 in three seasons at Texas Tech. 

Sloan passed away at age 79 after three months in memory care, according to an obituary written by former Alabama sports information director, Wayne Atcheson. Sloan passed away in Florida at Orlando Health Phillips Hospital. Sloan left Texas Tech to become the head coach at Ole Miss late in 1977. He was a national champion quarterback at Alabama in his playing days.