Howard Schnellenberger

Howard Schnellenberger
AI-generated (Stable Diffusion 3.5) · CC BY 4.0 · source
Name	Howard Schnellenberger
Birth date	March 16, 1934
Birth place	Saint Meinrad, Indiana, U.S.
Death date	March 27, 2021
Death place	Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.
Occupation	American football coach, player
Years active	1955–2016

Howard Schnellenberger

Howard Schnellenberger was an American football coach and former player noted for building programs at multiple levels of college football and serving as an assistant in the National Football League. He gained national prominence as an assistant under Don Shula with the Miami Dolphins and as a head coach who led underdog teams to landmark achievements, including a national championship campaign and major program turnarounds. His career intersected with many notable figures and institutions in college football and the NFL, and his influence is reflected in coaching trees and program legacies across the United States.

Early life and playing career

Born in Saint Meinrad, Indiana, Schnellenberger grew up in rural Indiana and later Ohio, attending Bellarmine College Preparatory and other schools before enrolling at the University of Kentucky. At Kentucky he played under coach Blanton Collier and later under Paul "Bear" Bryant at the Kentucky Wildcats, where he was a two-way end and captained teams that competed against programs such as University of Tennessee, University of Alabama, and Vanderbilt University. After college he signed with the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League and later spent time with the Washington Redskins as a player, before shifting into coaching, influenced by figures like Bud Wilkinson and contemporaries such as Tom Landry.

Coaching career

Schnellenberger's coaching career began at the high school and small-college levels before moving into major college and professional ranks. He served as an assistant at programs including the University of Kentucky and the University of Oklahoma, working with coaches who shaped college football strategies in the 1950s and 1960s. He became an assistant in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins, where he worked under head coach Don Shula and alongside assistants like Bill Arnsparger and Jimmy Johnson. Schnellenberger's NFL experience included participation in Super Bowl preparations and personnel planning for teams that faced opponents such as the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers, giving him exposure to championship-level operations.

Head coaching tenures

Schnellenberger's first major head coaching opportunity came at the University of Miami in the early 1970s, where he inherited a struggling program and recruited players from regions that included Florida high schools and junior colleges; his 1983 efforts culminated in the Hurricanes' consensus NCAA Division I-A Football Championship during a season that featured victories over programs like University of Nebraska, Penn State University, and University of Florida. He later accepted the head coach and athletic director position at the University of Louisville, where he rebuilt a faltering program, scheduling opponents such as University of Alabama at Birmingham, Syracuse University, and University of Tennessee and recruiting future professional players who entered the NFL Draft. Schnellenberger also led programs at Florida Atlantic University, where he founded the football program and guided it through its early seasons and into postseason play against teams like University of Central Florida and Marshall University. His head coaching résumé includes stops at institutions that competed in conferences such as the Big East Conference, Conference USA, and the Atlantic Sun Conference at various times.

Coaching philosophy and innovations

Schnellenberger was known for emphasizing disciplined blocking, pro-style offense, and recruiting strategies that exploited regional pipelines, including tapping junior college talent and high school standouts from Florida and the Southeastern United States. He advocated for program-building techniques similar to those used by coaches like Paul "Bear" Bryant and Don Shula, blending professional preparation with collegiate development, and he often implemented strength and conditioning regimens inspired by trends from the NFL. His staff development produced assistants who later coached at programs such as University of Oklahoma, University of Tennessee, and in the NFL, and his approach to scheduling and facilities development influenced athletic directors at institutions including University of Miami and Florida Atlantic University.

Legacy and honors

Schnellenberger's legacy includes a national championship for the Miami Hurricanes, the establishment of the Florida Atlantic Owls football program, and program revivals at University of Louisville and other schools. He received honors from college football organizations and was frequently cited in media coverage by outlets that chronicle College Football Hall of Fame candidates and coaching milestones. His coaching tree connects to notable coaches and administrators at programs such as University of Alabama, University of Miami, University of Oklahoma, and the Miami Dolphins, and his influence is commemorated by facility namings, alumni recognition events, and documentary treatments alongside figures like Joe Namath and Bernie Kosar.

Personal life and death

Schnellenberger was married and had children; family and personal connections tied him to communities in Louisville, Kentucky, Miami, Florida, and Boca Raton, Florida. He was active in alumni networks for institutions including the University of Kentucky and received visits from former players who went on to careers with franchises such as the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys. Schnellenberger died in Boca Raton, Florida in March 2021; his passing prompted tributes from college programs, former colleagues in the NFL, and national sports media covering figures like Don Shula and Paul "Bear" Bryant.

Category:1934 births Category:2021 deaths Category:American football coaches Category:College football coaches