BOCA RATON, Fla. — Howard Schnellenberger played for Bear Bryant, led the Miami Hurricanes to their first national championship, was the offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins’ perfect season and built a football program from scratch at Florida Atlantic.
The 77-year-old Schnellenberger announced Thursday he will retire from coaching following the 2011 season at Florida Atlantic, his last stop on a journey that began more than 50 years ago and saw him be part of four college national championships and a Super Bowl victory.
“As Beverlee and I look at our tenure here, I can’t tell you how wonderful it’s been,” Schnellenberger said, referring to his wife, who was sitting to his right with about two dozen of his players.
Schnellenberger will become an ambassador for the university after this season. And his biggest accomplishment at FAU is yet to come: He will lead the Owls into a $70 million, 30,000-seat football stadium for the first time Oct. 15, against Western Kentucky.
Schnellenberger is 157-140-3 as a collegiate head coach. After this, there will be no next stop to coach, he insisted.
“You’re not going to see me anywhere but here or at the beach,” Schnellenberger said.
The Associated Press
