Former coach Howard Schnellenberger, a founder of the Florida Atlantic University Football program, died Saturday at the age of 87.

Legend. pic.twitter.com/uOB8kNwelP

— FAU Football (@FAUFootball) March 27, 2021

Coach Schnellenberger led the Miami Hurricanes to their first national championship when he coached there from 1979 to 1983 and he later coached in Louisville and Oklahoma before joining FAU in 2001. He remained the head coach of the FAU Owls until 2011. The field at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton now bears his name. He leaves behind 2 sons, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and his wife of 61 years Beverlee Schnellenberger. “Howard always allowed me to be a part of his football life,” said Beverlee. “Watching him on the sidelines was an opportunity that gave us a special closeness – win or lose – that not many wives get. His son Stephen preceded him in 2008 at the age of 48. A private memorial mass will be held and a celebration of his life will be held at FAU on a date to be announced. A tribute to Coach Schnellenberger will take place during the Saturday broadcast of the FAU Spring Football game right here on Fox Sports 640 beginning at 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions are asked to be made to the Schnellenberger Family Foundation located in Delray Beach, Florida, or the Howard Schnellenberger Endowed Scholarship Fund at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. There will be a celebration of life ceremony at Florida Atlantic on a date to be announced.