Tony Sparano
Sparano as head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2011.
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| Minnesota Vikings | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Offensive line coach |
| Personal information | |
| Date of birth: | October 7, 1961 |
| Place of birth: | West Haven, Connecticut |
| Career information | |
| High school: | New Haven (CT) Lee |
| College: | New Haven |
| Career history | |
| As coach: | |
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| Head coaching record | |
| Regular season: | 32–41 (.438) |
| Postseason: | 0–1 (.000) |
| Career: | 32–42 (.432) |
| Coaching stats at PFR | |
Anthony Joseph Sparano III (born October 7, 1961) is an American football coach who is currently the offensive line coach for the Minnesota Vikings. He previously served as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders. Sparano is the only NFL head coach to lead a team to the playoffs the year following a one-win season, and only the second to conduct a ten-game turnaround, both of which he accomplished in his first season with the Dolphins. However, Sparano was fired by the Dolphins on December 12, 2011, after a disappointing season.
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. He earned a B.S. in criminal justice from New Haven in 1984.
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.
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.
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. 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, 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.
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