University of New Haven Athletics

PHOTO GALLERY

Tony Sparano '82 enters the Hall of Fame both as a player and as one of the most successful head coaches in school history.

Sparano was a member of the 1979 team that posted the first undefeated record in school history (8-0-1). As a head coach, Sparano posted a 41-14-1 record in five seasons at the helm of the Chargers.

The highlight of Sparano’s five seasons as head coach was a 12-2 record in 1997, capped off with a trip to the 1997 National Championship game in Florence, Alabama. New Haven was the first team from Connecticut ever to play in a National Championship football game and the smallest school ever according to enrollment to play for the Division II National Title. Overall, Sparano posted a 4-2 record in NCAA Playoff competition. Sparano’s .732 winning percentage is third all-time among New Haven head coaches.

Sparano left the Chargers in February of 1999 to join mentor and former New Haven head coach Chris Palmer on the coaching staff of the expansion Cleveland Browns. His NFL coaching highlight came as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2008-11. Overall, Sparano has spent time with the Cleveland, Washigton, Jacsonville, Dallas, Miami (as the head coach from 2008-11), New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco and most recently, as the offensive line coach with the Minnesota Vikings.