Florida Atlantic coach Howard Schnellenberger is carried off the field on his players' shoulders after the Owls beat Memphis in the New Orleans Bowl, Dec. 21, 2007. It was FAU's first bowl game in school history.

FILE PHOTO: Florida Atlantic University coach Howard Schnellenberger is carried off the field on his players' shoulders after the Owls beat Memphis in the New Orleans Bowl, Dec. 21, 2007. Howard Schnellenberger, who helped jump start the University of Miami football program and built the Florida Atlantic University program from the ground up, has died. “It is with heavy hearts that Florida Atlantic University announces, on behalf of the Schnellenberger family, the passing of a dad, a grandpa, a husband and a legendary coach. Schnellenberger coached UM from 1979-1983, leading the Hurricanes to their first national championship. After leaving UM, Schnellenberger coached at Louisville and Oklahoma before taking over as the director of football operations at FAU.

(AP Photo/Joel Auerbach)MIAMI – Howard Schnellenberger was a pipe smoker with a push-broom mustache and gruff baritone, and he paired his grandiloquent manner with grandiose visions for football at Miami, Louisville and Florida Atlantic that caused snickers. He revived the sport at Miami and Louisville and started the program at Florida Atlantic during a coaching career that spanned a half century. He then founded the program at Florida Atlantic and retired as coach after 11 seasons highlighted by back-to-back bowl victories. That University of Miami team finished No. AdAt Miami, Schnellenberger took over in 1979 amid debate about whether the moribund program should fold.

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Legendary football coach Howard Schnellenberger is recovering from a fall. According to Florida Atlantic University, Schnellenberger fell at his home in Boynton Beach and suffered a subdural hematoma. Beverlee Schnellenberger, his wife, said “Our prayers are for a full and speedy recovery. Schnellenberger was the first coach and architect of the football program at Florida Atlantic from 2001-2011. He was also an assistant coach on the Miami Dolphins from 1970-1972, including the perfect season.

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Former University of Miami athletic director Sam Jankovich, the man credited with the rise of the Hurricanes football dynasty, has died at the age of 84. Current Miami athletic director Blake James announced the passing of Jankovich on Twitter Wednesday. "Our hearts are broken with the passing of legendary former UM AD Sam Jankovich." Jankovich became the school's athletic director in 1983 and ushered in a successful era in multiple sports, but highlighted with the dominance of the football program. Miami athletic teams won six national titles in the Jankovich era.