Historical skepticism surrounded the hiring of Jimmy Johnson at Miami

Jimmy Johnson faced significant public and booster resistance when he was hired as the University of Miami head coach in 1984. The appointment followed the departure of Howard Schnellenberger, who had recently secured the program's first national championship. Local sentiment largely favored an internal candidate, such as defensive coordinator Tom Olivadotti, over the outsider from Oklahoma State. Johnson encountered immediate tension by inheriting the existing coaching staff and endured an inconsistent 8-5 debut season. Despite the initial criticism from local media and supporters, he ultimately rebuilt the team and led the program to a national title in 1987. His legacy at the university was solidified by his induction into the school's football Ring of Honor in 2023.

• 6:56 AMYahoo Sports — ‘Weird Time To Be Hired’ — Freezing Cold Takes Reveals How Miami Hurricanes’ ‘Boosters Were Not Happy’ With Jimmy Johnson