Schnellenberger took over a Miami Hurricanes football program in 1979 that had been on the brink of elimination. The basketball program had been eliminated just eight years before he took over.
Schnellenberger spent nine seasons in the NFL. He was as an Offensive Coordinator with the Dolphins and Head Coach of the Baltimore Colts before being hired as the Head Coach of the Miami Hurricanes. He was one of the most innovative coaches in college football.
The Hurricanes instituted a high octane passing game way before most schools. Led by Jim Kelly and then Bernie Kosar at quarterback he helped the Miami Hurricanes create Quarterback U in the early 1980’s.