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Fast Facts: Tony Sparano's Coaching History

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Jan 16, 2008 12:00 pm US/Eastern

Fast Facts: Tony Sparano's Coaching History

DAVIE (CBS4) ― On January 16, 2008, Tony Sparano was named the eighth head coach of the Miami Dolphins. 

TONY SPARANO'S COACHING HISTORY:

2003-07 Dallas Cowboys:

  • Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line/Running Game Coordinator (2006) 
  • Offensive Line/Running Game Coordinator (2005) 
  • Tight Ends Coach (2003-04)

Sparano has spent the last five years with the Dallas Cowboys, who qualified for the playoff in three of those seasons, including a 13-3 record this year when they won the NFC East.

In 2006, with Sparano as the Cowboys' primary play caller, the team ranked fifth in the NFL in total offense, as they averaged 360.8 yards per game. In addition, their 425 points scored was the fourth-highest total in the NFL.

2002 Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Tight Ends Coach

In 2002, Sparano moved on to the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he served as that team's tight ends coach. In that year, the team's tight ends totaled 69 receptions for 712 yards and six TDs, including 43 catches for 461 yards and four scores by Kyle Brady. 

2001 Washington Redskins

  • Tight Ends Coach

In 2001, Sparano was also the team's tight ends coach.

1999-2000 Cleveland Browns

  • Offensive Line Coach (2000)
  • Offensive Quality Control Coach (1999)

Sparano got his start in the NFL as offensive quality control coach with the Cleveland Browns in 1999 – the first year that the team resumed play following a three-year absence. The next year, he was promoted to offensive line coach, where he oversaw a unit that allowed 40 sacks, 20 fewer than they did the year before.

1994-98 New Haven

  • Head Coach

Immediately preceding his NFL tenure, Sparano was the head coach at the University of New Haven from 1994-98, where his teams made a pair of trips to the Division II playoffs during that time, including a runner-up finish in 1997. He was named the New York Metropolitan Football Writers Division II Coach of the Year that year and was the New England Football Writers Division II/III Coach of the Year in both 1995 and 1997.

1988-93 Boston University

  • Offensive Line Coach/Recruiting Coordinator/Academic Liaison (1988) 
  • Offensive Coordinator (1989-93)

Sparano was at Boston University in 1988 and served six years at the school. His first year was spent as the Terriers' offensive line coach, recruiting coordinator and academic liaison before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 1989, spending his final five years there in that post, including the 1993 season when the team put together an 11-0 mark.

1984-87 New Haven

  • Offensive Line Coach/Recruiting Coordinator


Sparano began his coaching career at New Haven in 1984, where he spent four seasons tutoring the offensive line and serving as recruiting coordinator at the school.

Sparano was a four-year letterman at New Haven, where he started at center and went on to earn his degree in criminal law. Sparano is a native of West Haven, Conn., where he attended Richard C. Lee High School.

He and his wife, Jeanette, have two sons, Tony and Andrew, both members of University at Albany (N.Y.) football team, and a daughter, Ryan Leigh.







(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

© MMIX, CBS Television Stations Inc. All Rights Reserved.