Former Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula who brought football in South Florida to national attention has passed away at 90. Shula had multiple connections to the Miami Hurricanes.
Former Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula has passed away at the age of 90. Although Shula never coached the Miami Hurricanes football team, there were many connections to the winningest coach in NFL history. The Dolphins and Hurricanes have shared a stadium for the majority of the Dolphins’ existence.
Shula had connections to Miami Hurricanes head coaches and former players. The biggest connection between Shula and the Miami Hurricanes other than sharing the Orange Bowl was long time assistant Howard Schnellenberger leaving the Dolphins to become head coach at the U. Schnellenberger spent two stints under Shula.
Schnellenberger coached under Paul “Bear Bryant” at Kentucky and Alabama after playing for him in college with the Wildcats. After leaving Alabama as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams to be the ends (wide receivers) coach from 1966-70, Schnellenberger coached under Hall of Famer George Allen.
Schnellenberger left Los Angeles for his first stint in Miami under Shula as the offensive coordinator, wide receivers and tight ends coach from 1970-72. That included being on the Dolphins staff when they finished the 1972 season an unmatched 17-0 including the playoffs.
So thankful to grow up in Miami and watch greatness on the sidelines every weekend. Thank you for bringing your toughness, your class and your dignity to the @MiamiDolphins . You will forever be an inspiration to an entire generation of coaches including this one. #Shula pic.twitter.com/1zOQPDDdL5
— Manny Diaz (@Coach_MannyDiaz) May 4, 2020
Schnellenberger left the Dolphins to become the Baltimore Colts head coach in 1973. The Colts went 4-10 in Schnellenberger’s first season. That included a 16-3 upset of the Dolphins in the penultimate game of the 1973 season. After an 0-3 start in 1974, Schnellenberger was fired and returned the Miami the following season.
After four more seasons as the Dolphins offensive coordinator, Schnellenberger was hired to be the Hurricanes head coach for the 1979 season. Schnellenberger stayed for five seasons in Coral Gables. In his last game on the Hurricanes sidelines, Miami upset Nebraska to win the 1984 Orange Bowl and their first national championship.
Thanks For All You Taught Me 🏈 Luv You Coach 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/XbNhy8y2KB
— Bernie Kosar (@BernieKosarQB) May 4, 2020
Miami Hurricanes All-American Ted Hendricks was drafted by the Baltimore Colts when Shula was in his final season there in 1969. Hendricks went on to a Hall of Fame career with the Colts, Green Bay Packers and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. Hendricks won three Superbowls with the Raiders.
After 26 seasons as the Dolphins head coach, Shula retired as the winningest coach in NFL history after the 1995 season. Miami Hurricanes legend and soon to be Pro Football Hall of Famer Jimmy Johnson succeeded Shula as the Dolphins head coach. In four seasons as the Dolphins head coach, Johnson went 36-28.
Johnson was succeeded with the Dolphins by his former defensive coordinator with the Miami Hurricanes and Dallas Cowboys and former Chicago Bears head coach Dave Wannstedt. Wannstedt was 42-31 in four and a half seasons with the Dolphins. Current Miami Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz also paid tribute.