[1] Born in Monticello, Arkansas, Slocum graduated from Bryan High School in Bryan, Texas in 1983 and attended Texas A&M University, where he played football as a linebacker and was a member of the 12th Man Kickoff Team under coach Jackie Sherrill.

During the years 1994–97, he coached two all-Americans, Shane Lechler and Lombardi Award winner Dat Nguyen, who both went on to play for the NFL.

[4] The Dallas Morning News ranked the Packers special teams units 29th in 2010 and 31st in 2011.

[1][8] On January 9, 2018, Slocum was retained as Sun Devils special teams coordinator and associate head coach.

[3] Shawn Slocum is currently married to the former Michelle Biehl and has four children (daughters, Tayler, Jordyn, Haley and son Jaxon).