Tony Sparano (October 7, 1961 – July 22, 2018) was an American professional football coach who served as head coach of the Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, and Minnesota Vikings. Known for his tough, disciplined coaching style, he led the Dolphins to a remarkable turnaround in 2008, going from 1-15 to 11-5 and winning the AFC East division title. Sparano began his coaching career in college football before moving to the NFL, where he also coached for the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets. He was named AP NFL Coach of the Year in 2008. He died of a heart attack at age 56.
