Tony Sparano offered head coaching job with Dolphins

Dallas Cowboys assistant coach Tony Sparano has been offered the head coaching position of the Miami Dolphins and will accept it after the conclusion of the Cowboys' season, according to a report in Sunday's New Haven Register.

Sparano's two sons play football at the University of Albany. Tony is a sophomore defensive end and Andy a freshman center with the Great Danes. They grew up in Connecticut while their father was the head coach at the University of New Haven from 1994 to 1998. Also, UAlbany offensive coordinator Peter Rossomando has known the Sparano brothers since they were small children. Rossomando played for the elder Sparano at Boston University when Sparano was offensive coordinator there from 1989 to 1993.

Citing a source, the newspaper said the 46-year-old Sparano was offered the job Saturday by Miami's new general manager Jeff Ireland.

Sparano, a former coach at the University of Albany, was hired in 2003 by former Cowboys coach Bill Parcells, who promoted Sparano to assistant head coach.

He was the offensive line coach, running game coordinator and play caller in 2006.

Parcells was hired as the Dolphins executive vice president of football operations December 20.

One of his first moves was to hire Ireland away from the Cowboys.

The Dolphins were 1-15 this season under first-year coach Cam Cameron, who was fired on Thursday.

If Sparano is hired, he could not arrive in Miami until the Cowboys are eliminated from the playoffs.

Sparano has also been an assistant coach with Washington, Cleveland and Jacksonville.

Courtesy: National Post