Former Miami Hurricanes head coach, Jimmy Johnson helped continue the Canes winning tradition when the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame coach patrolled the sidelines for the University of Miami from 1984-1988. Under coach Johnson, the Miami Hurricanes won the 1987 National Championship. Johnson was a huge factor in thrusting the Canes into a program vying for New Years Day bowl games and national championships during his last three seasons at the helm.
It was during coach Johnson's tenure with the Miami Hurricanes that the Canes gained national attention and commenced to become the team and program that many college football programs loathed to play.