National Football League

Dolphins fire Sparano as coach

Published Dec. 12, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

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The Miami Dolphins have fired head coach Tony Sparano, and the team has named assistant head coach/defensive backs coach Todd Bowles as the interim replacement.

Sparano, who was hired in January 2008, had immediate success transforming a 1-15 team to 11-5 in one season. The drastic turnaround led to Sparano finishing one vote shy of Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith for Coach of the Year honors in '08.

Sparano began the season aware he was on borrowed time. After Miami's late-season fade to 7-9 last year, owner Stephen Ross embarked on a public courtship with Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh and Jon Gruden. Both declined the overtures, and Sparano signed a two-year extension on Jan. 8.

He was fired a day after the Dolphins lost to the Philadelphia Eagles to fall to 4-9. The defeat ended a recent surge by the Dolphins after they lost their first seven games, and they are assured of their third consecutive losing season, the longest such streak since the 1960s. They'll miss the playoffs for the ninth time in 10 years.

Ross is eager to boost sagging attendance, and he's expected to pursue a coach with star power. Among those mentioned as possible candidates are Gruden, Bill Cowher and Jeff Fisher.

''I'd like to find a young Don Shula if that's possible,'' Ross said Monday in a news conference.

It's no wonder Ross craves some stability. Since Shula retired in 1996, no coach has made it through five full seasons in Miami.

“We will look to bring back the glory to Miami that it had in the past,” Ross said. “The constant speculation became a distraction and I thought we should make move."

Ross gave Sparano a vote of confidence after the Dolphins lost their first four games, but now they'll start over again. Bowles is the sixth coach since 2004 for the Dolphins, who haven't won a playoff game since 2000 and haven't reached the Super Bowl since 1984.

Shortly before he was fired, Sparano held his regular Monday news conference. When asked if he wanted to comment on reports he would be fired after the season, he said no.

''I want to coach against the Buffalo Bills this week. That's my sole focus,'' he said.

General manager Jeff Ireland's status had also been in question, but he'll be retained and take part in the coaching search, Ross said.

Sparano was popular with his players, but a dismal home record and declining attendance accelerated his departure. The Dolphins lost 12 of 13 home games during one stretch.

Sparano's teams tended to be dull, too. Last year Miami ranked third-worst in the NFL in scoring, and this year their offense often sputtered.

''Sad and disappointing news on Coach Sparano's termination,'' running back Reggie Bush tweeted. ''He's a great coach and an even better man! He will be greatly missed.''

His departure represents further dismantling of the regime built by Bill Parcells after he joined the Dolphins in late 2007. Ross took over as owner in early 2009, and Parcells gave up control of football operations before last season.

As in 2007, the Dolphins have issues at quarterback, in the offensive line and elsewhere. But Ross said the situation is not as bleak now.

''Everybody recognizes there's a great foundation here to build upon,'' Ross said. ''It's not starting all over again. This isn't the way the team was when Parcells came and they had to rebuild the entire roster.''

The Associated Press contributed to this report