Tony Sparano

Anthony Joseph Sparano III (October 7, 1961 – July 22, 2018) was an American football coach. He served as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL) and is the only NFL head coach to have led a team to the playoffs the year following a one-win season, and only the second to conduct a 10-game turnaround, both of which Sparano accomplished in his first season with the Dolphins. Sparano was fired by the Dolphins in December 2011 after a 4–9 start to the season, his worst start in his four-year tenure with the team.

Sparano was the offensive line coach for the Minnesota Vikings from 2016 until his death in July 2018.

Playing career

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.

Coaching career

College

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.