Following a legendary stint at Miami's Southridge High School, Coach Jimmy Johnson tapped Don to be his linebackers and tight ends coach in 1984, a position he held throughout Johnson's tenure. Soldinger was instrumental in Miami's dominant defense, coaching future NFL defenders Micheal Barrow, Winston Moss, John McVeigh, and Rod Carter, along with tight end Alfredo Roberts.
In his second stint with the Hurricanes beginning in 1995, Soldinger came back as the running backs coach, nearly turning Miami's "Quarterback U" reputation into "Running Back U." He shaped the careers of some of Miami's finest backs, including Edgerrin James, Willis McGahee, Clinton Portis, James Jackson and Danyell Ferguson.