Tony Sparano
 |
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| Sparano as head coach of the Dolphins in 2011 | |
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line |
| Team | Oakland Raiders |
| Personal information | |
| Date of birth | October 7, 1961 |
| Place of birth | West Haven, Connecticut |
| Career information | |
| College | University of New Haven |
| Head coaching record | |
| Regular season | 29–31 (.483) |
| Postseason | 0–1 (.000) |
| Career record | 29–32 (.475) |
| Stats | |
| Coaching stats | Pro Football Reference |
| Team(s) as a coach/administrator | |
| 1984–1987 1988 1989–1993 1994–1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003–2004 2005-2006 2007 2008–2011 2012 2013-present |
University of New Haven (Offensive Line) Boston University (Offensive Line) Boston University (Offensive Coordinator) University of New Haven (Head Coach) Cleveland Browns (Offensive Quality Control) Cleveland Browns (Offensive Line) Washington Redskins (Tight Ends) Jacksonville Jaguars (Tight Ends) Dallas Cowboys (Tight Ends) Dallas Cowboys (Offensive Line/Running Game Coordinator) Dallas Cowboys (Asst. Head Coach/Offensive Line) Miami Dolphins (Head Coach) New York Jets (Offensive Coordinator) Oakland Raiders (Asst. Head Coach/Offensive Line) |
Anthony "Tony" Sparano III (born October 7, 1961) is an American football coach, and currently the assistant head coach and offensive line coach of the Oakland Raiders. He previously served as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, and as offensive coordinator for the New York Jets. Sparano is the only NFL head coach to lead a one-win team to the playoffs the following year and only the second to conduct a ten-game turnaround, both of which he accomplished in his first season with the Dolphins.[1] However, Sparano was fired by the Dolphins on December 12, 2011, after a disappointing season.[2]
Contents |
Playing career [edit]
College [edit]
Sparano was a four-year letterman for Division II University of New Haven, starting at center for the New Haven Chargers and graduating in 1982.[3]
Coaching career [edit]
NCAA [edit]
Assistant coach [edit]
Sparano began his coaching career at his alma mater, serving as New Haven's offensive line coach for four seasons before joining the staff at Division I-AA Boston University. After one year as the team's offensive line coach, Sparano served five seasons as the Terriers' offensive coordinator.
Head coach [edit]
Sparano was named New Haven's head coach in 1994, and led the Chargers to two playoff appearances in five seasons. In 1997, New Haven led Division II in offense (42.8 points per game) and finished second in defense (11.6 points allowed per game) en route to a 12–2 record, losing to Northern Colorado in the championship game.[4]
National Football League [edit]
Assistant coach [edit]
Beginning his NFL career in 1999, Sparano was fired in three staffing purges after brief stints with the Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins and Jacksonville Jaguars.[5] While with the Redskins, Sparano was partly responsible for launching the career of Ross Tucker. Sparano was hired by new Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells in 2003,[6] rising from tight ends coach to assistant head coach in his five seasons in Dallas. Sparano was the offensive play-caller for Dallas in 2006, but ceded the responsibilities to new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett the following season.[7]
Head coach [edit]
After firing Cam Cameron following a franchise-worst 1–15 season, the Miami Dolphins and new executive vice president of football operations Parcells hired Sparano to a four-year contract worth $2,500,000 per year on January 16, 2008.[8]
In his first season, Sparano led the Dolphins to an 11–5 record and the AFC East division title, securing the franchise's first playoff berth in seven seasons before losing to the Baltimore Ravens in a wild-card game. The 10-win turnaround tied an NFL record[9] and Sparano finished one vote behind Atlanta Falcons first-year head coach Mike Smith in balloting for the AP Coach of the Year award.[10]
In 2009 and 2010 each, Sparano led the Dolphins to a 7-9 record and third place in the AFC East. Sparano's Dolphins went 1-7 at home in 2010. The Dolphins were the subject of much gossip at the end of the 2010 season when team owner Stephen Ross flew across the country with General Manager Jeff Ireland to interview then Stanford University coach Jim Harbaugh. At the time of the interview with Harbaugh, Sparano was still the team's head coach. It was also reported by numerous media sources that Ross also spoke with former NFL coaches Jon Gruden and Bill Cowher about the not yet open position. According to reports Bill Cowher told Ross he would not talk to him while he had a head coach in place.
On January 8, 2011, the Dolphins gave Sparano a two-year extension worth $4,500,000 dollars, with Ross saying he was the perfect man for the job. On December 12, 2011, Sparano was fired from the Miami Dolphins as head coach after week 14 which was a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles his final record was 4-9, he was paid $9,000,000 in a pay-off package and was replaced by Todd Bowles for the remainder of the season, who was later replaced by Joe Philbin.
Return to assistant coaching [edit]
New York Jets [edit]
Sparano was hired as the new offensive coordinator for the New York Jets on January 11, 2012, signing a three-year deal worth $500,000.[11] Sparano was fired on January 7, 2013 after the Jets' offense performed poorly.[12]
Oakland Raiders [edit]
On January 23, 2013, Sparano was hired to the dual roles of assistant head coach and offensive line coach by the Raiders.[13] He is expected to work closely with new offensive coordinator Greg Olson and head coach Dennis Allen to restore the angle-blocking scheme favored by star running back Darren McFadden, following the Raiders' disappointing 2012 offensive showing.
Head coaching record [edit]
| Team | Year | Regular season | Post season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| New Haven | 1994 | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | 0 | ||||
| New Haven | 1995 | 10 | 1 | 1 | .875 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.500 | Lost to Ferris State University in Division II Quarterfinals |
| New Haven | 1996 | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | 0 | ||||
| New Haven | 1997 | 12 | 2 | 0 | .857 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0.750 | Lost to University of Northern Colorado in Division II Championship Game |
| New Haven | 1998 | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | 0 | ||||
| MIA | 2008 | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 1st in AFC East | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Baltimore Ravens in AFC Wild-Card Game |
| MIA | 2009 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3rd in AFC East | - | - | - | - |
| MIA | 2010 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3rd in AFC East | - | - | - | - |
| MIA | 2011 | 4 | 9 | 0 | .308 | 4th in AFC East | - | - | - | (fired after week 14) |
| Total[14] | 70 | 46 | 1 | .603 | 4 | 3 | .571 | |||
Coaching tree [edit]
NFL head coaches under whom Tony Sparano has served:
- Chris Palmer, Cleveland Browns (1999–2000)
- Marty Schottenheimer, Washington Redskins (2001)
- Tom Coughlin, Jacksonville Jaguars (2002)
- Bill Parcells, Dallas Cowboys (2003–2006)
- Wade Phillips, Dallas Cowboys (2007)
- Rex Ryan, New York Jets (2012)
Personal [edit]
Sparano and his wife, Jeanette, have two sons: Tony, Andrew, both members of the University at Albany (N.Y.) football team[15] and a daughter, Ryan Leigh.[16] At age 17, Sparano had an incident, while working in a fast food restaurant, which burnt his eyes, which is why he always wears his signature sunglasses even at night.
References [edit]
- ^ "Dolphins still have room to improve after remarkable turnaround". www.nfl.com. Retrieved 2009-02-16.
- ^ "Dolphins fire coach Tony Sparano". www.espn.com. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
- ^ "Sparano Enters: The Dolphins on Track?". www.kffl.com. 2008-01-20. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
- ^ Cavanaugh, Jack (1997-12-13). "New Haven Just a Step from Division II Peak". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-02-16.
- ^ Bishop, Greg (2008-09-05). "Tony Sparano Follows Unconventional Path to Become Dolphins' Coach". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-02-16.
- ^ "Parcells hires three more coaches". New York Times. 2003-01-16. Retrieved 2009-02-16.
- ^ Watkins, Calvin (2007-06-09). "Garrett will call Cowboys' plays". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2009-02-16.
- ^ "Dolphins hire Sparano as head coach, replacing Cameron". www.espn.com. 2008-01-16. Retrieved 2009-02-16.
- ^ "Miami on pace to tie best turnaround in NFL history". www.nfl.com. Retrieved 2009-02-16.
- ^ "Smith edges Sparano for AP Coach of Year". www.nfl.com. 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2011-01-11.
- ^ Cimini, Rich (11 January 2012). "Jets hire Tony Sparano to staff". ESPN. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
- ^ Orr, Conor (8 January 2013). "Tony Sparano fired as Jets offensive coordinator, report says". The Star-Ledger. Archived from the original on 8 January 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
- ^ Florio, Mike (23 January 2013). "Tony Sparano lands in Oakland". ProFootballTalk.com.
- ^ Tony Sparano Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks - Pro-Football-Reference.com
- ^ University at Albany football roster
- ^ Tony Sparano Bio
External links [edit]
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Brian Schottenheimer |
New York Jets Offensive Coordinator 2012 |
Succeeded by Marty Mornhinweg |
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- 1961 births
- Living people
- American football centers
- National Football League head coaches
- Cleveland Browns coaches
- Washington Redskins coaches
- Jacksonville Jaguars coaches
- Dallas Cowboys coaches
- Miami Dolphins head coaches
- New York Jets coaches
- Boston University Terriers football coaches
- New Haven Chargers football coaches
- New Haven Chargers football players
- People from West Haven, Connecticut
- American people of Italian descent
