Schnellenberger is in the final year of his contract with FAU and has said often in recent months that he was not planning to evaluate his coaching future after 2011. School officials said they did not have any immediate comment on what he plans to say, other than noting it was an "important announcement."
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| Kim Klement/US Presswire |
Schnellenberger is 157-140-3 as a collegiate coach. He will be with the Owls for the entire 2011 season, including any possible bowl game.
Best known perhaps for taking Miami to the 1983 national title, which started a run of five championships in 19 seasons for the Hurricanes, Schnellenberger is revered around much of South Florida. He founded FAU's program in 1998, taking the Owls to the Division I-AA national semifinals in 2003 and leading them into the ranks of major college football a year later.
From the outset of his time at FAU, Schnellenberger stressed the need for the Owls to have an on-campus stadium. A deal was finally struck for that to happen, and the building will open Oct. 15 when Florida Atlantic hosts Western Kentucky. Schnellenberger beamed last week when the school officially turned on the lights in the new 30,000-seat stadium for the first time, letting the coach throw the switch as a tribute.
"Three university presidents were involved in this, but one coach," FAU president Mary Jane Saunders said that night, Schnellenberger by her side. "And it's coach Schnellenberger that made this happen. The vision that this university that he came to after an incredibly illustrious career. We're grateful to have him. He's done a fabulous job with all the guys and I'm just so pleased I could share this day with you."
Schnellenberger said helping get the stadium built was one of his "greatest accomplishments" from a lifetime of football.
"This process has been truly amazing," he said last week.
Schnellenberger has been part of college football for nearly 60 years, starting when he played at Kentucky for the legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant. His coaching career began in 1959 as an assistant at Kentucky, then Alabama -- where he helped convince Joe Namath to play for Bryant and the Crimson Tide -- then eventually jumping to the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams in 1966.
He was on Don Shula's staff in Miami for the Dolphins' perfect season in 1972, after which Schnellenberger became head coach of the Baltimore Colts. He returned to the Dolphins in 1975, then got the job leading the Hurricanes in 1979 -- telling people at the time he thought Miami would win a national championship within five years.
And on that front, he delivered.
Schnellenberger went 41-16 at Miami, his last game there a 31-30 win over Nebraska on Jan. 1, 1984, sealing that season's national title. He left after that season for an offer with the USFL, a deal that fell apart before he ever coached a game in that fledgling league, so he remained in the college game at Louisville in 1985.
He spent one year at Oklahoma in 1995, then returned to South Florida to build Florida Atlantic's program. The school played its first game in 2001, and won bowl games in 2007 (along with the Sun Belt Conference title) and 2008, pushing Schnellenberger's record to 6-0 in bowls as a head coach.
"He's a legend for a reason," FAU defensive back Marcus Bartels said. "That's what he does. He builds programs. And he's good at it. So that's why he's a legend."
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
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