Tony Sparano

American football coach (1961-2018)

Tony Sparano (October 7, 1961 – July 22, 2018) was an American Football offensive coodinator for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was previously the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. (Took over from Cam Cameron.) In his first season with Miami (2008), Sparano got the team from a 1-15 record to 11-5 and the division lead. However, the remainder of Sparano's Dolphins career was a disappointment.

Tony Sparano
Sparano as head coach of the Dolphins in 2011
Personal information
Date of birth (1961-10-07)October 7, 1961
Place of birth West Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Date of death July 22, 2018(2018-07-22) (aged 56)
Place of death Eden Prairie, Minnesota, U.S.
Career information
Position(s) Offensive Coordinator
College University of New Haven
Head coaching record
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


2012-2018
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)
New York Jets
(Offensive coordinator)

Personal change

Sparano and his wife, Jeanette, have two sons: Tony, Andrew, both members of the University at Albany. At age 17, Sparano had an incident which burnt his eyes, which is why he always wears his signature sunglasses even at night.

On July 19, 2018, Sparano was hospitalized in Eden Prairie, Minnesota after suffering from chest pains.[1] He was released the following day and died two days later from a type of coronary heart disease at the age of 56.[2][1][3]

Notes change

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Vikings OL coach, former popular Cowboys assistant Tony Sparano dies at age of 56". Star-Telegram. July 22, 2018.
  2. Malloy, Theresa (July 22, 2018). "Sources: Minnesota Vikings Offensive Line Coach Tony Sparano Dies". KSTP. Archived from the original on July 22, 2018. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  3. "Vikings Offensive Line Coach Tony Sparano Died of Heart Disease". Tucson.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.

References change