That's true, however, the NHC already did have an academic affiliation before moving to FIU, since their old location was directly across from UM, and, before going to that office building, they were actually on the UM Campus, in the computer building...
Here's a link to the NHC historical page (midway down the page is the portion on the move to the UM campus, and, you'll also find a photo of the building the NHC and HRD moved to in 1979 - I started there a few months later)...
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/history/In fact, during my first year there, we were still able to purchase office supplies at the UM Bookstore (the old NHEML still having an account there), so, the NHC had a long-standing affiliation with UM, as it still does today, through their professional association with UM's Rosentiel School of Atmospheric Science, which is across the Causeway from the HRD...
http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/