Vis Major
01-16-2008, 02:33 PM
Sparano, who had been the Dallas <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = FSTL /><FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67043">Cowboys</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK>' assistant head coach, accepted a job offer Wednesday from new Miami boss Parcells. They worked together with the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67043">Cowboys</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> when Parcells was head coach from 2003-06.
The agreement was first reported by FOXSports.com's Jay Glazer.
Sparano becomes the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67052">Dolphins</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK>' fifth head coach since 2004. Parcells was on the job for only a week before he fired Cam Cameron, who went 1-15 in his first year as an NFL head coach.
The new coach paid tribute to Parcells at a news conference after the announcement.
"Coach Parcells has taught me the most, prepared me the most for this job," Sparano said. "He's taught me a great deal and I'm going to continue to learn as much as I can."
The 46-year-old Sparano became available when the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67043">Cowboys</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> lost their playoff game Sunday to the New York <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67056">Giants</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK>. He has been the front-runner for the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67052">Dolphins</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> job since the start of their search.
Sparano arrived at the team complex Wednesday morning wearing a suit and accompanied by new Miami general manager Jeff Ireland. Owner Wayne Huizenga soon joined them, then left about an hour later.
Ireland, who spent the past seven years in player personnel with the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67043">Cowboys</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK>, first interviewed Sparano in Dallas on Jan. 5.
The <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67052">Dolphins</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> also interviewed Minnesota <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67053">Vikings</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, former Baltimore <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67065">Ravens</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> defensive coordinator Rex Ryan and Tennessee <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67047">Titans</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. But none of them has direct ties to Ireland or Parcells, and Ireland has said it's important that he and Parcells be familiar with the new coach.
<FSTL:EDGEINCLUDE source="/name/public/FS/Includes/StyleSheet"></FSTL:EDGEINCLUDE><SCRIPT language=JavaScript type=text/javascript>var pollWidth=250;</SCRIPT><FSTL:EDGEINCLUDE source="/poll-section-front?contentId=7683026"></FSTL:EDGEINCLUDE>
Sparano said Wednesday he was not concerned with the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67052">Dolphins</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK>' losing record.
"I don't really care what happened in the past," he said. "I'm not afraid of challenges. I look forward to them."
Sparano said he would put immediate emphasis on improving the offseason program.
Sparano also interviewed for head jobs with the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67065">Ravens</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> and Atlanta <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67038">Falcons</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK>, but he had been widely expected to join the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67052">Dolphins</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK>. The New Haven (Conn.) Register, citing an unidentified source, reported Jan. 5 that Sparano was offered the job and would accept it after the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67043">Cowboys</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK>' season.
Sparano is a true football guy with a no-nonsense approach and a great connection with players. Two years ago, Sean Payton tried to hire him as the Saints offensive coordinator and he asked Parcells to let him go. Parcells, then with Dallas, balked and declined the request.
Sparano is a native of New Haven, Conn. His only head coaching experience was at New Haven in 1994-98. His team was NCAA Division II runner-up in 1997.
The <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67052">Dolphins</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> have repeatedly tapped the Dallas pipeline since the arrival of Parcells. Former <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67043">Cowboys</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> assistant David Lee was hired as quarterbacks coach, and on Tuesday, Brian Gaine was hired as assistant director of player personnel after three years as the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67043">Cowboys</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK>' assistant director of pro scouting.
Sparano joined Parcells in Dallas in 2003 as tight ends coach, became offensive line coach in 2005 and called plays for Parcells in 2006. He was promoted to assistant head coach last February.
Miami's search has been much less extensive than a year ago, when at least a dozen coaches were interviewed and Huizenga traveled as far as Costa Rica to meet with potential candidates.
The <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67052">Dolphins</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> are coming off the worst season in team history. They lost their first 13 games and missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year, extending a franchise record. The coach's office became a revolving door in 2004, when Dave Wannstedt quit after nine games and was replaced by Jim Bates. Nick Saban became the coach in 2005, but lasted only two years before leaving for Alabama.
The agreement was first reported by FOXSports.com's Jay Glazer.
Sparano becomes the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67052">Dolphins</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK>' fifth head coach since 2004. Parcells was on the job for only a week before he fired Cam Cameron, who went 1-15 in his first year as an NFL head coach.
The new coach paid tribute to Parcells at a news conference after the announcement.
"Coach Parcells has taught me the most, prepared me the most for this job," Sparano said. "He's taught me a great deal and I'm going to continue to learn as much as I can."
The 46-year-old Sparano became available when the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67043">Cowboys</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> lost their playoff game Sunday to the New York <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67056">Giants</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK>. He has been the front-runner for the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67052">Dolphins</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> job since the start of their search.
Sparano arrived at the team complex Wednesday morning wearing a suit and accompanied by new Miami general manager Jeff Ireland. Owner Wayne Huizenga soon joined them, then left about an hour later.
Ireland, who spent the past seven years in player personnel with the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67043">Cowboys</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK>, first interviewed Sparano in Dallas on Jan. 5.
The <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67052">Dolphins</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> also interviewed Minnesota <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67053">Vikings</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, former Baltimore <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67065">Ravens</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> defensive coordinator Rex Ryan and Tennessee <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67047">Titans</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. But none of them has direct ties to Ireland or Parcells, and Ireland has said it's important that he and Parcells be familiar with the new coach.
<FSTL:EDGEINCLUDE source="/name/public/FS/Includes/StyleSheet"></FSTL:EDGEINCLUDE><SCRIPT language=JavaScript type=text/javascript>var pollWidth=250;</SCRIPT><FSTL:EDGEINCLUDE source="/poll-section-front?contentId=7683026"></FSTL:EDGEINCLUDE>
Sparano said Wednesday he was not concerned with the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67052">Dolphins</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK>' losing record.
"I don't really care what happened in the past," he said. "I'm not afraid of challenges. I look forward to them."
Sparano said he would put immediate emphasis on improving the offseason program.
Sparano also interviewed for head jobs with the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67065">Ravens</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> and Atlanta <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67038">Falcons</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK>, but he had been widely expected to join the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67052">Dolphins</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK>. The New Haven (Conn.) Register, citing an unidentified source, reported Jan. 5 that Sparano was offered the job and would accept it after the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67043">Cowboys</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK>' season.
Sparano is a true football guy with a no-nonsense approach and a great connection with players. Two years ago, Sean Payton tried to hire him as the Saints offensive coordinator and he asked Parcells to let him go. Parcells, then with Dallas, balked and declined the request.
Sparano is a native of New Haven, Conn. His only head coaching experience was at New Haven in 1994-98. His team was NCAA Division II runner-up in 1997.
The <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67052">Dolphins</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> have repeatedly tapped the Dallas pipeline since the arrival of Parcells. Former <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67043">Cowboys</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> assistant David Lee was hired as quarterbacks coach, and on Tuesday, Brian Gaine was hired as assistant director of player personnel after three years as the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67043">Cowboys</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK>' assistant director of pro scouting.
Sparano joined Parcells in Dallas in 2003 as tight ends coach, became offensive line coach in 2005 and called plays for Parcells in 2006. He was promoted to assistant head coach last February.
Miami's search has been much less extensive than a year ago, when at least a dozen coaches were interviewed and Huizenga traveled as far as Costa Rica to meet with potential candidates.
The <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryId="67052">Dolphins</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> are coming off the worst season in team history. They lost their first 13 games and missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year, extending a franchise record. The coach's office became a revolving door in 2004, when Dave Wannstedt quit after nine games and was replaced by Jim Bates. Nick Saban became the coach in 2005, but lasted only two years before leaving for Alabama.