| Sparano as head coach of the Dolphins in 2011 | |
| Date of birth | October 7, 1961 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | West Haven, Connecticut |
| Position(s) | Head Coach |
| College | University of New Haven |
| Regular season | 29–31 |
| Postseason | 0–1 |
| Career record | 29–32 |
| Stats | |
| Coaching stats | Pro Football Reference |
| Team(s) as a coach/administrator | |
| 1984–1987 1988 1989–1993 1994–1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003–2007 2008–2011 |
University of New Haven (Offensive line coach) Boston University (Offensive line coach) Boston University (Offensive coordinator) New Haven (Head coach) Cleveland Browns (Off. quality control) Cleveland Browns (Offensive line coach) Washington Redskins (Tight ends coach) Jacksonville Jaguars (Tight ends coach) Dallas Cowboys (Offensive line coach) (Assistant head coach) Miami Dolphins (Head coach) |
Anthony "Tony" Sparano III (born October 7, 1961) is a former American Football head coach most recently with the Miami Dolphins. At age 17, Sparano had an incident which burnt his eyes, which is why he always wears his signature sunglasses even at night. Sparano is the only National Football League 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 and his team have struggled since.
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Sparano was a four-year letterman for Division II University of New Haven, starting at center for the New Haven Chargers and graduating in 1984.[2]
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.[3]
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.[4] 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,[5] 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.[6]
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 on January 16, 2008.[7]
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[8] and Sparano finished one vote behind Atlanta Falcons first-year head coach Mike Smith in balloting for the AP Coach of the Year award.[9]
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 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, and will be replaced by Todd Bowles.
| Team | Year | Regular season | Post season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| 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[10] | 29 | 32 | 0 | .475 | 0 | 1 | .000 | |||
NFL head coaches under whom Tony Sparano has served:
Sparano and his wife, Jeanette, have two sons: Tony, Andrew , both members of the University at Albany (N.Y.) football team[11] and a daughter, Ryan Leigh.[12] When asked about finally having a baby girl, Sparano is quoted as saying, "Well, it's a good thing we had her on the third try, because going for it on the fourth try wasn't even an option we had considered."
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