OFFICIAL: Tony Sparano hired as head coach

by Matty I on Jan 16, 2008 10:38 AM EST in News Comment 42 comments

**UPDATE #3**: Just some notes from the press conference that just concluded. One of the first things Sparano said was, "We have a lot of work to do." What an understatement that is.

Like Cam believed, Sparano said numerous times that character people are important. He believes, "discipline is critical," as he said. He also said that he will work his players hard, but have a good relationship with them. He claims to have had good relationships with his players in the past, which is a far cry from Cam last season. Tony also stressed, "Our players will be in outstanding shape." Beware, Mr. Shelton (among others).

That's all for now. [end update #3]

**UPDATE #2**: It's official. According to the team's official site, Tony Sparano has been hired as the next Miami Dolphins head coach.

The press conference has been scheduled for noon eastern time and can be seen LIVE on miamidolphins.com.

Also, the Sun-Sentinel is reporting that the deal is worth $11 million over 4 years. [end update #2]

**UPDATE**: Well the Palm Beach Post is now reporting the hiring as fact:

The Dolphins have hired Tony Sparano to be their next head coach, a source said Wednesday morning.

Sparano, the Dallas Cowboys assistant head coach, arrived in South Florida Tuesday night for his second interview, and had dinner with Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga and General Manager Jeff Ireland, who said he hoped to have an announcement within the next couple of days.

It came much sooner than that.

As soon as I hear any official word or know of a press conference, I'll pass along the info. [end update]

There are reports rolling in now that the Dolphins and Tony Sparano have reached an agreement for Sparano to become the next Miami Dolphins head coach. The first report to roll in was from Jay Glazer:

FOX Sports has learned that the Dolphins have tabbed Dallas assistant coach Tony Sparano as their new head coach, replacing the fired Cam Cameron.

Dolphins officials this morning phoned the other candidates who interviewed and informed them of the team's decision.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen also reports the Dolphins have hired Sparano:

The Miami Dolphins have hired Tony Sparano as their new head coach, replacing Cam Cameron, who was fired after one season on the job, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen.

The Miami Herald also is reporting that Sparano, the former assistant head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, was offered the job by Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga this morning.

As for the local papers, here's what the Miami Herald reports:

It is official. Tony Sparano will be the Dolphins fifth head coach in five years.

The Dolphins have offered Sparano the job left vacant when Cam Cameron was fired. The sides are now or will soon be ironing out the details to a new contract. And Foxsports.com is reporting the other candidates for the job -- Leslie Frazier, Rex Ryan and Jim Schwartz -- have been notified the job is Sparano's.

Club owner Wayne Huizenga, who officially offered Sparano the job, left the team's practice facility at 9:40 a.m.

The Herald also tells us a little about how today has unfolded:

But while Parcells didn't tuck in Sparano, he will pretty much be one of the first faces the coach sees every morning. Parcells typically gets to work around 7ish. And if he's starting around that time, everyone, including Sparano, is also.

Today Sparano and Ireland arrived at the team facility around 8 a.m. Parcells was already at work. Huizenga arrived at 8:45 -- he's allowed to show up whenever he freakin' wants because he owns the joint.

Meanwhile, the Sun-Sentinel says that Sparano's hiring seems imminent:

Vice president of football operations Bill Parcells arrived early Wednesday morning and at about 8 a.m. was joined by GM Jeff Ireland and Sparano. Owner H. Wayne Huizenga drove in at 8:30 and departed about an hour later with a message to the media throng staking out team headquarters.

"Stay tuned," Huizenga said.

When asked if the deal was done, he said, "not yet."

Huizenga most likely signed off on the deal, believed to be for four years, and apparently is being finalized.

The press conference to anoint Sparano the next Dolphins head coach is expected today. At 10:10 a.m, the Dolphins escorted Sparano's wife, Jeanette, into the building, another sign that the deal is being finalized.

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Defensive Coaches?

per ProFootballTalk

Cowboys secondary coach Todd Bowles is expected to leave to become the Dolphins' assistant head coach, and Cowboys linebackers coach Paul Pasqualoni is expected to become the Dolphins' defensive coordinator. Both Bowles and Pasqualoni first joined the Cowboys staff in 2005, when Bill Parcells was head coach, and both of those moves could be announced soon, although the Dolphins technically can't hire either until their contracts expire next week.

~~ FINGUY23 ~~

by JDPhinFan on Jan 16, 2008 10:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

good info!

thanks!

by Matty I on Jan 16, 2008 10:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Must read

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/hashmarks/0-5-69/Who-is-Tony-Sparano-.html

Best stuff I've read on Sparano. Check it out. I think it pretty much answers Matt's question: why should fans be optimistic? (being optimistic is always a choice by the way, not something forced upon one by the circumstances)

by icerob on Jan 16, 2008 8:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Two good football guys

So thats how many cowboys? by my count it's 5 wow

by jvw on Jan 16, 2008 11:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Something else is official...

... we are now officially Dallas South.

The Jayfiss Report ...one fan's rants.

by NumberSeven on Jan 16, 2008 11:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just call us the Miami Manatees

The seacows, yeah that was cheesy as hell.

Anyway this hire was expected

by Patssuck456 on Jan 16, 2008 3:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

A Little More Info + Contract #s

Dallas Cowboys assistant head coach Tony Sparano is the new Miami Dolphins head coach.

The two sides on Wednesday morning completed work on what ESPN.com has confirmed is a four-year contract worth about $2.5 million to $2.7 million per year.

Not counting the interim tenure of Jim Bates in 2004, Sparano becomes the sixth head coach in franchise history. In his first NFL head coaching job, Sparano inherits a team that won just one game in 2007; has obvious holes on the offensive side, including uncertainty at quarterback; and an aging defense.

On the positive side, the Dolphins own the top overall selection in the 2008 draft, and can either exercise it to choose a top-shelf prospect, or perhaps trade the choice for additional picks in the lottery. Sparano also will be surrounded by a strong support group of front-office executives he knows well.

Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland, who most recently worked in the Dallas personnel department as vice president of college and pro scouting, is familiar with Sparano and his coaching style. And Dolphins vice president of football operations Bill Parcells hired Sparano as an assistant when Parcells was the Dallas head coach.

Sparano, 46, also interviewed for the head coach openings in Atlanta and Baltimore.

Although he has worked in the league only nine seasons, Sparano is widely respected for his offensive acumen and his demeanor with the players. Before joining the Dallas staff in 2003, Sparano was on the staffs of Cleveland (1999-2000), Washington (2001), and Jacksonville (2002).

Before landing his first NFL position, Sparano worked 15 years in the college ranks and was head coach at New Haven from 1994 to 1998.

He worked primarily with the Cowboys' offensive line this season. But when Parcells was the coach, Sparano had much broader responsibilities. Although he didn't hold the title of coordinator, Sparano called the team's plays in 2006. Parcells is known to hold Sparano in high regard.

Sparano is expected to pursue several current Dallas assistant coaches, some of whose contracts with the Cowboys have expired, for key positions on his staff.

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by JDPhinFan on Jan 16, 2008 11:21 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Press Conference at NOON!!!

It's official. The Dolphins have hired Cowboys assistant Tony Sparano as their new head coach and will unveil him at a noon press conference today, a long-expected coronation of the consistent frontrunner and clear personnel choice of new bosses Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland.

~ via Greg Cote, Miami Herald ~

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by JDPhinFan on Jan 16, 2008 11:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Glad this is...

done.

There's nothing to Tony Sparano that makes him seem outstanding, but that's fine with me. If nothing else, I think we can all look forward to a coach that actually gets the respect of his players versus the circus that lame cuck, cam cameron ran here last year.

Now the real work starts, both with the draft and free agency.

by Natalya on Jan 16, 2008 11:31 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

exactly!

And welcome back, Nat. Haven't seen you around here recently.

by Matty I on Jan 16, 2008 11:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Matty...

I was on vacation for a while. :)

by Natalya on Jan 16, 2008 1:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Its the Miami Dolfia

Dolfia = Parcells, Ireland, Sparano.

Parcells is no longer "The Tuna", he is the "The Godfather". K?

We got Jeff "Um man" Ireland as his right hand man, and Tony "Ok" Sparano as his left.

If they don't like you, your out. k? If your not getting the job done, they'll find someone who will> k? If they want you in Maimi 9/10 your coming to Miami> k?

This is so great. Sparano sounds very impressove to me. He had a direct, solid answer to every question asked. He sounded very sure and just like Bill and Jeff seemed to have a plan and know what he is doing. I think The Fins are in awesome hands> k?

by Neo on Jan 16, 2008 12:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

lol

I think Sparano was impressive in his press conference. But I also said that about Cam Cam last year. So what do I know?

by Matty I on Jan 16, 2008 12:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Last year was different though.

Its understandable. We thought they had an outstanding defense and just needed a good offensive guy to come in and put it all together. So getting excited about a coach who had just coordinated an offense to a 14-2 regular season record was completely understandable.

Then "the season" happened.

But I'm excited about this hire because above anything the team just needs to get back to the basics. I like that in this story (http://myespn.go.com/blogs/hashmarks/0-5-69/Who-is-Tony-Sparano-.html) they talk about him playing the good soldier when he got play-calling duties taken away from him. He didn't turn bitter and try to backstab the guy who took those duties over. And in doing so, he churned out 3 pro-bowlers on that o-line.

And also Parcells could have come in this year, kept the current structure in place, then blamed that structure when things went south. Instead he's come in and immediately put his stamp on everything. He's taken ownership of the situation from every aspect. I like that.

We'll have plenty of time to dissect specific personnel moves, but for now after such a miserable experience this past season was, its nice to have some hope being restored.

by DCDolphin on Jan 16, 2008 12:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Parcells is definitely putting his neck out. It's the old "cooking the dinner" and "buying the groceries" bit he had from years back. It will be an interesting next couple of months- as the staff takes shape, who stays and who goes, and then the draft.

The Jayfiss Report ...one fan's rants.

by NumberSeven on Jan 16, 2008 12:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Impressed

I just saw his PC, and I think we got the right one this time. I was impressed with Cam on how he presented himself and how articulate he was. Sparano just called it like it was, and didn't offer any promises. Cam sorta danced around questions a lot, but Sparano was straightforward... I see a lot of Parcells in this guy, and that is mostly why I like him!!

~~ FINGUY23 ~~

by JDPhinFan on Jan 16, 2008 2:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sack Sparano's Sorry A$$

Well ok, I'll give him the draft then review his position.

by JC on Jan 16, 2008 12:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

bigger not better?

didnt parcells & Ireland say that he wanted someone that was philosophically compatible with him? He always likes a bigger player, and Sparano didnt echo that sentiment. I disctinctly remember Ireland saying in his press conference that we were ganna be a "BIG" football team.

by YatilGinnJr on Jan 16, 2008 12:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Parcells does like bigger players

But I agree, just because they are bigger doesn't make them better. You gotta have some speed too. We're gonna get bigger, but that doesn't me we have to have "lineman" playing all our positions.

~Sparano didnt echo that sentiment~

When did he do that? He was asked a question and answered it. Bigger isn't always better.

by Neo on Jan 16, 2008 12:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i know its not always better...

but he still didnt echo Ireland's & Parcells statements that he wants to be a BIG football team.

by YatilGinnJr on Jan 16, 2008 1:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think ur

looking too much into it. We'll just have to see. I don't think this would have been planned out the way it was if they all didn't see eye to eye.

by Neo on Jan 16, 2008 1:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i have to say...

I'm a little bit nervous that we're bringing all these rookie coordinaters and assistants. It kinda seems like Parcells is just hooking all his boys up on Wayne's tab. No different than what Cam did with Ginn or his boy June Jones in Hawaii.

When are these people going to stop taking advantage of Wayne and actually bring in people that know what they are doing??

by YatilGinnJr on Jan 16, 2008 1:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I have a idea

lets bring in another big name coach. JJ, Saban. How about a nice big name coordinator (Cameron) or a hot name like Garrett. OOOoo I know, lets bring in coaches with experience, but losing records like Capers and Mularkey. Some people you just can't please.

by Neo on Jan 16, 2008 1:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i'm not talking about the head coaches...

I'm reacting to the report that Dallas' secondary coach is ganna be the assistant head coach and the linebacker coach is ganna be the coordinator.

I dont think Sparano or Ireland were bad choices. I just think an all-rookie staff underneath them is a lil bit ridiciulous. They can't all possibly be ready for promotions. I'd like to see them get SOME experience at those lower level positions. Parcells is going to have to be alot more involved that he's leading on to teach these guys how to do jobs they've never done before.

by YatilGinnJr on Jan 16, 2008 1:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It isn't always about that...

You need the best football coaches you can get that fit the same philosophies as the HC and entire organization, such as BP is bringing in. These people have been around football most of their lives and are great coaches, obviously... they are in the NFL. You need coaches that have shown that they can coach, no matter what position they coached. Todd Bowles has greatly improved the play of Dallas' secondary during his tenure there, and their LB coach is coaching a group of wonderful players that he has developed into those great stars. You can have an experienced offensive genius (Cam Cameron), but get no results because they can't make the players or team better by the way they handle themsleves and motivate the players.

~~ FINGUY23 ~~

by JDPhinFan on Jan 16, 2008 1:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well Said

Get as many coaches who can coach and who cares what there title is

by jvw on Jan 16, 2008 3:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Also...

This is going to be a "Team" from top to bottom. Everyone is going to be on the same page. That should at least help us create a foundation.

Matt

by Matt27 on Jan 16, 2008 1:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Just right off, I can't think of any "Stars" on any of Parcells teams. Except TO who was pushed on him by Jones, and which is why I think he left. Parcells just had really really good "teams".

>K?

by Neo on Jan 16, 2008 1:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ok....

you guys can all drink the kool-aid and be optimistic, and I am optimistic as well that Parcells will get the job done. I'm just throwing some caution into the wind about the fact that everyone hired so far is getting a pretty significant promotions and I have trouble beleiving that they are all prepared for them. I hope I am proven wrong.

by YatilGinnJr on Jan 16, 2008 2:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well...

Sparano has been an Assistant Head Coach for a few years, and was a Head Coach before... Plus, you usually go from being a linebackers coach or secondary coach to offensive coordinator. It is how people move up in any industry. Jason Garrett was only a QB coach for 2 years, then OC for 1 year, and now he is in high demand as a Head Coach... it is just the way of the industry is all I'm saying... I am not being positive or negative, we don't even know who is going to be the coordinators yet!

~~ FINGUY23 ~~

by JDPhinFan on Jan 16, 2008 2:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Its ok to be cautious

It's all about who you surround yourselfs with. Bill has worked with these guys on Mon and Tuesday as they where putting game plans toghther and then he watch as they implemented these game plans during practice and then during the game was able to see how they react when there position players where having a bad game or the plan wasn't working. If hes confindent in these guys So am I. Where I will differ with Bill will be some of his personal moves. Some are great some are not so great but most are good. But bringing good hard working football people to the team im not worried about and If one of these guys fails to live up to his job he will be replaced. Bill holds everyone accountable players,coaches,scouts,and office personal.

by jvw on Jan 16, 2008 4:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Stars?

Neo you don't think LT was a star?

by gafinfan on Jan 16, 2008 4:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I was thinking the same thing.

Phil Simms was a star. So was Harry Carson.

by urbino on Jan 16, 2008 5:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

O yea

I'll give ya LT, I wouldn't consider Simms a "star" though. But for all years, teams, players, Parcells has coached the only guy you can throw my way is LT, that would suggest that Parcells is more a "team guy" than anything else.

>K?

by Neo on Jan 16, 2008 11:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just a thought...

how about we actually let the new coach (and staff) actually coach a game before we praise or bash them?

In the meantime, we can be cautiously optimistic and talk about the draft, trades, roster moves, etc.

by Natalya on Jan 16, 2008 3:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Chemistry in Management

....means chemistry in the TEAM.....very excited about our future (Parcells is taking no time in surrounding himself with good people)!

Go Dolphins!!!

by MassFinFan65 on Jan 16, 2008 3:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Just Listened to the Press Confernece and

have to say that "at the end of the day" I was pretty impressed. Mike and Mike should interview this guy soon. What can I say, "at the end of the day" I'm drunk from the Bill Parcell's Kool-Aide.

Go Fins
#13

by 13FinsFan on Jan 16, 2008 4:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

All that

I can say is "At the end of the day". We will just have to wait and see. I'm not ready for my koolaid just yet.

by gafinfan on Jan 16, 2008 4:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

hahahaha

At the end of the day, Sparano n the Dolphins will be swimmin w/ the fishes. But we won't stop, believing.

Yea.... thats the kinda lame jokes we're ganna hear all year from the national media sportswriters. Get used to it.

by YatilGinnJr on Jan 16, 2008 9:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Better than...

the team being the joke, I guess.

by urbino on Jan 16, 2008 9:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Man... I just pray that Tony is finally THE GUY...

That take us to the next level. PLEASE!!! NO MORE HEAD COACHES PASARELLA HERE. I drank the Cool-Aid with Satan and with Cameron too, but I wont this time. I was high with Cam because I agree with the 90% of his off-season moves, and also with his draft, but now I wont fall on that again. WE WANT RESULTS BUDY, RESULTS!!
P.D: Tony, PLEASE, dont give up with John Beck yet!

by Alfonso on Jan 17, 2008 1:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs