Dolphins' Front Office Sets Up Great Coaching Staff For Years To Come

He’s not stalking the sidelines anymore, but Bill Parcells is in control of the Miami Dolphins.

It’s only appropriate that the Big Tuna would be in charge of the NFL’s only franchise named after marine life, and the man known for big turnarounds was responsible for the biggest turnaround in NFL history last season.

When the Dolphins made a 10-game swing from 1-15 in 2007 to 11-5 in 2008, Parcells’ hand was all over the team.

From the general manager Parcells brought in during his first year as vice president of football operations, to the new head coach, Parcells manufactured the Dolphins’ historic season. The Parcells coaching team gets another year to stew in 2009, and anything could come out of the pot.

Miami Hires Jeff Ireland

Jeff Ireland was brought into the Dolphins’ organization about two weeks after Parcells as the first major hire in the Parcells era.

Ireland, who had a track record of success in the Dallas Cowboys system, knew Parcells from the time they were together in Dallas. Ireland was a college scout for the Cowboys for five years before being promoted to vice president of pro and college scouting in 2005. From there, he caught Parcells’ eye while the Tuna was the Cowboys’ head coach.

It was quite a step up for Ireland, whose playing experience included time as the place kicker for Baylor in college, and whose coaching experience was limited to North Texas for two years.

But Ireland made his bones as a scout, and his impact was felt by the Dolphins from his first NFL Draft.

Miami picked up Michigan tackle Jake Long to anchor the team’s offensive line for the future with the No. 1 overall pick. During the draft, Ireland and Parcells also combined to make an impactful trade for former Cowboys’ tight end Anthony Fasano. Fasano became a key receiver during the 2008 season, coming up with seven touchdowns, all of them from within the red zone.

During Ireland’s first draft, the Dolphins also picked up Chad Henne from Michigan, who is being tagged as the team’s quarterback of the future after they’re done with Chad Pennington.

Ireland was also responsible for an important free-agent pickup last season in Davone Bess. The Dolphins were shorthanded at the wide receiver position, and Bess made up some room there. Ireland told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that he plans to pick up eight to 10 more free agents this season.

Ireland’s draft strategy could pay off again in 2009 after he picked up West Virginia quarterback Pat White in the second round. After a year of running the Wildcat offense, White looks to be a great fit for that system.

“There’s going to be a lot said about how we’re going to utilize (White),” Ireland told The Palm Beach Post. “We’re creative enough as a coaching staff that he’s going to enhance our offense in a number of ways.”

And of course, one of the biggest decisions Ireland and Parcells made in the early going was to axe coach Cam Cameron and make a change.

"We just felt in order to move forward and not look back, we needed someone in place who shared the same philosophical compatibilities we shared," Ireland told The Associated Press. "We didn't really know the guy that well. We were going to try to get someone that does share those things, and we weren't completely sold that he did."

And from there came Tony Sparano.

The Sparano Family

Tony Sparano was a Division II starting center for the University of New Haven, a relatively small college with an enrollment of 5,000 students in south-center Connecticut.

After graduating with a criminal law degree, Sparano spent his time coaching at his alma mater for four years. He had a brief stop at Boston University before returning to New Haven to be the team’s head coach from 1994-98. When his Chargers finished the 1997 season as the second-place team in all of Division II, people started to take notice.

Sparano left New Haven in 1999 for four different NFL jobs in a four-year span, moving up the ranks at each job.

When Parcells and Ireland made their move on Sparano in 2008, they were getting a man who had coached offensive line with the Browns, tight ends with the Redskins and Jaguars, and offensive coordinator with the Cowboys.

He had quite a pedigree, and it was no coincidence that Sparano and Parcells shared time in the Cowboys system.

“When Bill and I discussed what we were looking for in a head coach, we talked about one of high character," Ireland told ESPN.com back when Sparano was hired. “We wanted someone who understood how to develop young players, one who could instill a culture that's all about winning.

“We think we found that guy. We know we found that guy."

It turns out all the success with Fasano in his rookie campaign wasn’t a fluke—Sparano had a history of kicking butt with freshman tight ends.

From 2002-03, he was a tight ends coach with the Cowboys. His prize rookie, Jason Witten, caught more passes that season than any other rookie tight end.

And it wasn’t just the tight end position. Sparano was gifted with a competent quarterback when Chad Pennington fell into the Dolphins lap when Brett Favre ruined the Jets’ season.

Sparano essentially gutted the other coaches on the staff: Only two coaches from the Cam Cameron year of terror remained on the payroll.

Three assistant coaches came with Sparano from Dallas, including the defensive coordinator (Paul Pasqualoni) and defensive line coach (Kacy Rogers). Sparano also brought in Dan Henning, a former Atlanta Falcons head coach and a mind with 28 years of coaching experience.

The Wildcat offense had its makers.

"What we didn't want to hire is guys who are just 'yes' men that shake their head 'yes' in the room," Sparano said in a press conference on January 31, 2008. "We wanted to bring idea people into the room. We have idea people. I feel like our staff is full of knowledge right now to be able to help these players."

Miami also got a boost when Tom Brady went down for the season, and one of the NFL’s easiest schedules resulted in an 11-5 record and winning the AFC East.

The Dolphins’ huge turnaround nearly led to Sparano winning The Associated Press’ Coach of the Year award. He finished one vote behind Falcons rookie coach Mike Smith.

Heading into his second season, Sparano and his staff are settling in.

“(I’m) more comfortable in the fact that I know my team,” Sparano told miamidolphins.com. “I have a year's body of work underneath us right now. Everything we are doing isn't the first time we are doing it so there's credibility there.

“All the day-to-day things are easier. From my end, I feel a lot more comfortable.”

Watch out, AFC East.

The Man With the Plan

Bill Parcells’ record almost doesn’t need to be brought up.

He’s won the AP Coach of the Year award twice. He won the 1986 1990 Super Bowls with the Giants and the 1996 AFC Championship with the Patriots.

And he’s also good with turnarounds.  He held an advisory role with the 1997 New York Jets, a team fresh off tying the worst season in NFL history with a 1-15 record. The Jets went 9-7 in 1997 and then to the AFC Championship Game in 1998.

So when another 1-15 team desperately needed help, it made sense to go calling to the man who had made drastic changes before..

Parcells was hired, and the moves started fast.

“Somebody like the Big Tuna, regardless of who's in the front office or who's not, brings a lot of respect and a lot of credibility with him,” Dolphins defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday told The Associated Press. “If you're a free agent out there, that might draw you in."

It’s even drawn a few names back this season. Jason Taylor will be back for 2009, though reports have the former Dolphins great not starting in Miami’s new defense.

With Parcells and Ireland in the front office and Sparano and his team controlling plays on the field, the Dolphins are all set in personnel.

Another great year wouldn’t surprise anyone.