FAU has announced a 4pm press conference to discuss the future of the program. Likely, this is to announce that this is Howard's last season, but there has been some rumors of health concerns (he has watched practice the past few days from the balcony of his office..which he never does). It's going to be real interesting...

Here's a link that includes the full release:

http://blogs.trb.com/sports/college/fau/blog/

FAU to the Big East?

(08-11-2011 10:34 AM)Fanof49ASU Wrote:  FAU to the Big East?

FAU to the MAC.

(08-11-2011 10:34 AM)Fanof49ASU Wrote:  FAU to the Big East?

If that is the case, I doubt Howard would step down...he'd be in line for a giant raise!

Oh boy...

I have a feeling this is Coach announcing this is his last year and that the search is on for a new coach. I doubt we'll hear anything in regards to a successor right away.

If this is the case my expectations for FAU's season may be going up. The players will have motivation to go out in style for Coach and play well in the new stadium.

Interesting.

Happy trails...

Quote:BryanDFischer Bryan Fischer
RT @McMurphyCBS: Sources tell @CBSSports Howard Schnellenberger retiring after this season. My story: http://bit.ly/k1M0Dc

I think Owl fans are going to be both happy and sad.

It is sad to see the founder of our program fade away, but with the new stadium and all that it means to the program a new coach could do wonder about elevating us.

I just pray hes going to coach in the Stadium this year. I feel he has earned that right 50x over.

Source: Schnellenberger to announce he is retiring at end of this season

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

12:06 p.m. EDT, August 11, 2011
Howard Schnellenberger, who created Florida Atlantic's football program and has been its only coach, is expected to announce that this will be his final season at a press conference Thursday at 4 p.m., according to several sources with knowledge of the situation.

Schnellenberger, 77, is in the final year of his contract, and he and Athletic Director Craig Angelos had agreed not to discuss the possibility of a new contract until after this season.

Schnellenberger was hired in 1998 to create the program, and the Owls played their first game in 2001.

Schnellenberger, who made Miami into a national power and was coach with the Hurricanes won their first national championship in 1983, took FAU to the Division I-AA semifinals in 2003 and the Owls ended the season ranked No. 4 in the country.

FAU moved to Division I-A in 2006, and a year later they won the Sun Belt championship and New Orleans Bowl, becoming the youngest program to make it to a bowl game.

The $70 million, 30,000 seat stadium nearing completion on the north end of campus was something Schnellenberger had pushed for since he started the FAU program, which played its first game in 2001.

The Owls will play their first game there on Oct. 15.

Schnellenberger is a legend in South Florida. He was an assistant coach for the Dolphins under Don Shula when Miami won its two Super Bowl titles.

He then went to the University of Miami in 1979 and in 1983 the Hurricanes won their first national championship.

Schnellenberger then went to Louisville, where he spent 10 seasons and turned the Cardinals into a nationally-ranked program.

He left Louisville after the 1994 season when he was hired as head coach at Oklahoma.

Schnellenberger lasted just one season with the Sooners, who went 5-5-1, and he resigned under pressure and returned to South Florida.

Semi-retired, Schnellenberger was doing some sales work and when he was approached by then FAU President Anthony Catanese, who was interested in starting a football program. Catanese hired Schnellenberger in 1998 as Director of Football Operations, and in 1999 FAU received approval from the state to add football.

FAU to the WAC!

(08-11-2011 11:43 AM)MT FAN Wrote:  FAU to the WAC!

Thank you. That joke wasn't lame enough the first two times....

They ought to name the stadium for him.

(08-11-2011 12:02 PM)SpaceRaider Wrote:  They ought to name the stadium for him.

They will sell the stadium naming rights, but I'm certain they'll be playing on Howard Schnellenberger field.

(08-11-2011 11:33 AM)NCowl Wrote:  Source: Schnellenberger to announce he is retiring at end of this season

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

12:06 p.m. EDT, August 11, 2011
Howard Schnellenberger, who created Florida Atlantic's football program and has been its only coach, is expected to announce that this will be his final season at a press conference Thursday at 4 p.m., according to several sources with knowledge of the situation.

Schnellenberger, 77, is in the final year of his contract, and he and Athletic Director Craig Angelos had agreed not to discuss the possibility of a new contract until after this season.

Schnellenberger was hired in 1998 to create the program, and the Owls played their first game in 2001.

Schnellenberger, who made Miami into a national power and was coach with the Hurricanes won their first national championship in 1983, took FAU to the Division I-AA semifinals in 2003 and the Owls ended the season ranked No. 4 in the country.

FAU moved to Division I-A in 2006, and a year later they won the Sun Belt championship and New Orleans Bowl, becoming the youngest program to make it to a bowl game.

The $70 million, 30,000 seat stadium nearing completion on the north end of campus was something Schnellenberger had pushed for since he started the FAU program, which played its first game in 2001.

The Owls will play their first game there on Oct. 15.

Schnellenberger is a legend in South Florida. He was an assistant coach for the Dolphins under Don Shula when Miami won its two Super Bowl titles.

He then went to the University of Miami in 1979 and in 1983 the Hurricanes won their first national championship.

Schnellenberger then went to Louisville, where he spent 10 seasons and turned the Cardinals into a nationally-ranked program.

He left Louisville after the 1994 season when he was hired as head coach at Oklahoma.

Schnellenberger lasted just one season with the Sooners, who went 5-5-1, and he resigned under pressure and returned to South Florida.

Semi-retired, Schnellenberger was doing some sales work and when he was approached by then FAU President Anthony Catanese, who was interested in starting a football program. Catanese hired Schnellenberger in 1998 as Director of Football Operations, and in 1999 FAU received approval from the state to add football.

I would be happy if we keep Curry until he's 77

It will be interesting to see how FAU handles the coaching search. You definitely want to name the new coach early so you can tell recruits who they'll be playing for, but you also want to be careful as to not possibly create a divide among the current players and/or coaches. Underclassmen with a chip on their shoulder(for whatever reason) will be less likely to less to Howard because they'll just think "Why do I have to listen to him, he won't be here next year." and depending on who they hire, when they hire him and what his relationship is with existing assistants, some of them may have an uncertain future hanging over their heads.

Sad to see a great coach go out like this. He can be proud of building the FAU program, and the FAU fans should be grateful to have had him. Best of luck in your coaching search. I hope FAU can land a quality coach.

plenty of articles regarding this on the sun-sentinel site...

Sun-Sentinel / FAU

bring on the Pirate king.

(08-12-2011 07:20 AM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  bring on the Pirate king.

:iagree:


the more Leach's name comes up, the more I want him. I hope they can make it happen. Our AD has the connections with him, he loves south florida, you can see the ocean from our stadium, he gets to be where he wants. No one hired him this season, so he could take a pay cut to be where he wants to be and still have a nice living.

GO OWLS, come on board Leach!!!!!

IMO Leach would be an AWESOME grab for FAU!

Leach won't coach for FAU. When he returns to coaching, it will be at a BCS program.