3. Jimmy Johnson
After Howard Schnellenberger set up the state of Miami and led the Miami Hurricanes to their first College Football title, Johnson can be credited of putting the Hurricanes continually in the national spotlight.
After an 8-5 season in his first year in 1984, Miami finished 44-4 in his last four seasons in Coral Gables. Although Miami won only one National Title in his five seasons, they could have won three in a row from 1985-87 had they won their bowl game in each of those seasons. During his last three seasons, the “Canes finished first or second in the polls.
Johnson’s teams at Miami set school records for consecutive wins with 36 and consecutive road wins with 20. The Hurricanes also began a school and NCAA Record 58 games winning streak at the Orange Bowl, The first 26 of those came under Johnson.
Johnson would leave Miami for the NFL just like his successors Erickson and Davis. Johnson rebuilt the Dallas Cowboys from a 1-15 team in 1988 to a Superbowl Champion four seasons later. The Cowboys would repeat as champions under Johnson in 1993.
Johnson left the Cowboys after he and Owner Jerry Jones had a falling out after the 1993 season. He would become the Miami Dolphins Head Coach three seasons later and led them to a 44-36 record in four seasons.