July 30, 2008

BOCA RATON, FL - Florida Atlantic University has extended Howard Schnellenberger's contract as the Owls head football coach through the 2010 season. The agreement was approved by FAU's Board of Trustees Wednesday.

"Howard has built the football program into a bowl champion in record time," said Craig Angelos, FAU's athletic director. "FAU wants him to serve at the team's helm through its next historic phase, the construction of our on-campus stadium."

FAU hired Schnellenberger in 1998 to spearhead the fundraising efforts to add football to the university. Since that time, the Owls have accomplished many firsts and have quickly risen in prominence on campus, in the community, in the state and on the national front.

FAU began playing football in 2001. In its 22nd game of the program's existence, the Owls captured a Division I-A victory. FAU hosted an NCAA-semifinal game in 2003 and rose as high as No. 4 nationally. In 2004, FAU was the only team to defeat the University of Hawaii on its home field and marched through four more opponents to tally a 5-0 mark in the first year playing above the Division I-AA level. FAU began its move to full Division I-A status that same season and then moved into the Sun Belt Conference.

In 2006, the Owls became the first Sun Belt Conference team to defeat a Big 10 team. They also played defending national champions University of Florida, and captured the Sun Belt Conference Title and the invitation to the 2007 New Orleans Bowl. Schnellenberger also earned "Sun Belt Coach of the Year" honors to complement quarterback Rusty Smith being named "Sun Belt Player of the Year," as well as 12 other football team members being named to the all-conference team.