Tony Sparano Gone? Miami Dolphins Head Coaches Through the Years

Dolphins fans have been wanting a coaching change since the Browns loss. It appears imminent now as Black Monday is a few hours away.

If it comes to fruition, this will be the 7th coaching change since Don Shula stepped down. The team has not been a Super Bowl contender since the early 1990's. The coaching carousel has not helped to develop the team into contenders. Their has been some moderate success; a few division titles and playoff berths, but not enough to satisfy the fans thirst for a Super Bowl.

This is a look back at the coaches of the Miami Dolphins.

George Wilson

Many Dolphin fans tend to forget George Wilson was the first coach of the franchise in 1966. Most football fans tend to believe Shula was the coach of the Dolphins from the beginning.

Geoge Wilson is the last Detroit Lions coach to have taken them to a league title. He took over the expansion Dolphins and held the job for four years.

Dolphins Record: 15-39

Playoffs: Playoffs?? What Playoffs?

Don Shula

An icon with the Dolphins as head coach. Shula came from the Baltimore Colts franchise and was remembered as the losing coach to the New York Jets. After a Super Bowl loss to the Cowboys, many in the media felt he was going to be the coach remembered for not being able to win the big one.

The Dolphins hired Coach Shula to take over in the 1070 season. The signing cost the Dolphins a first round pick. Which in retrospect was a pretty damn good first round pick.

The characteristics of an early Shula team was a strong offensive line, powerful running game, and stout defense. Later, Shula used the talents of a certain quarterback to become a passing team; virtually eliminating the run game.

Shula was the first to lead a team to from the AFC and NFC, or AFL and NFL, to the Super Bowl. He was also the first to win three consecutive AFC titles.

In 1971, the team lost to the Cowboys in the Super Bowl. The team used this as motivation for the Perfect 1972 season. The Dolphins also won the next Super Bowl.

The Super Bowl eluded the franchise for the next few years until 1982. In the strike shortened season, Shula lead his team to a rare Super Bowl rematch against the Redskins. This time, John Riggins lead the Skins to a victory. Behind the arm of Dan Marino, the Dolphins were back in the Super Bowl against the 49ers. Bill Walsh was able to outcoach the arm of Marino and coaching of Shula. Many fans blew off the loss as many felt Marino would lead the Dolphins to at least two Super Bowls, but never did it happen. The closest was the 1992 AFC championship.

After the 1995 season, Coach Shula decided to retire. He left with many head coaching records including games coached, games won, and Super Bowl appearances.

Record: 257-133

Playoffs: 17-14

Super Bowl: 2-3

Jimmy Johnson

Jimmy Johnson came to the Dolphins in the 1996 season.

Many felt JJ could breathe new life into the struggling franchise and bring back the Dolphins to the promised land. He left with less than stellar results.

Coach Johnson was the heir apparent to Coach Shula since Johnsons departure from Dallas. Many fans knew it would be a matter of time until the 'hair' came to the Dolphins.

Jimmy Johnson had an impressive resume. Taking over the Hurricanes after Coach Shnellenberger and raising the U to new heights. When JJ took over a 1-15 Dallas team, he got lucky with the Walker trade which brought in tons of talent to the Cowboys which translated into back to back titles.

When Coach Johnson took over the Dolphins, there were many rumors he would trade Marino to gather draft picks, just like he did in Dallas with Walker.

Coach Johnson inherited a good offense, lead by Marino, but a mediocre to terrible defense. He used the draft and free agency to build the defense. Coach Johnson brought in Pro Bowlers Sam Madison, Patrick Surtain, Zach Thomas, and Jason Taylor. As solid as he was picking defensive players, he was terrible when picking the offense with busts such as Yantil Green and Cecil Collins.

After the 1998 season, Coach Johnson was burned out. He resigned but was talked into staying by Dan Marino and as long as Dave Wannestadt would be brought in as coach-in-waiting. After a blowout loss the following season in the playoffs to the Jaguars, the Johnson and Marino era would be over.

Record: 36-28

Playoffs: 2-3

No Super Bowl.....

Dave Wannstedt

The Stache came into the position at the beginning of the 2000 season. He had moderate success during his tenure. Many Dolphin fans feel he completely wasted the defense Jimmy Johnson had built. Coach Wannstedt other failure is to have a team comprised of 12 Pro Bowlers not reach the playoffs.

The Stache was the coach-in-waiting for the 1999 season under Coach Johnson. Dolphin fans were optimistic because the transition would not be tumultuous.

During his tenure, he never tried to get a franchise quarterback, instead to continue the running game and stoudt defense.

Many wanted his head after the 2003 campaign, but Huzienga brought back the Stache for another season. Midway through 2004, after a 1-8 start, Coach Wannstedt resigned.

Record: 42-31

Playoffs: 1-2

Super Bowl: Your kidding, right???

Jim Bates

After Wannstedt resigned in the middle of the 2004 season, Defensive Coordinator Jim Bates was tagged the interim head coach.

One of the only highlights of the terrible season was beating the eventual Super Bowl champion Patriots.

Many of the defensive players wanted Bates to remain as head coach, but that was not meant to be as the hiring of Nick Saban did not included Coach Bates in the plans.

Record: 3-4

Playoffs: HAHAHAHAHA 

Nick Saban

Nick Saban took over before the 2005 season. He looked relatively lost during his time on the Dolphins sideline. He was just another successful college coach who was a failure in the NFL. He left after the 2006 season after constantly denying he was leaving for the Alabama job.

The Dolphin faithful thought they finally had a coach who was worthy to bring them back to the Super Bowl. But after two mediocre seasons and failure to bring in a franchise quarterback the Dolphins were back to square one.

Record: 15-17

Playoffs: NONE

Cam Cameron

Just as Saban continued to prove the theory great college coaches do not make great pro coaches, Cameron, just as Wannstedt before, fed fuel to the fire which states good coordinators do not necessarily become great head coaches.

Cameron looked lost the entire 1-15 season. The Dolphin fans should have known something was amiss when he took Ted Guinn with the ninth pick in the draft. The team needed someone to throw to the recievers and Guinn was a second or third round pick at best.

After the disaster which was the draft and season, Cameron was sent packing by the new regime.

Record: 1-15 

Tony Sparano

Beginning of 2008 season, the Dolphin faithful thought the Super Bowl was only two or three years away. Bill Parcells was brought in as head of football operations. Parcells brought in Jeff Ireland as General Manager and Tony Sparano as head coach.

The regime started off promising as the Dolphins went from 1-15 to 11-5 and the division title. The offensive line seemed to be strong, the defense became stronger, and the running game seemed to be on the rise with the R&R Connection. Sparano introduced the Wildcat which helped to win many games, but now other defenses know how to stop the gimmick offensive scheme.

The defense looks strong, but the offense is in a state of disaster. Still no franchise quarterback and the running game is getting old.

Record: 18-14

Playoffs: 0-1

The Future: Cowher, Chucky, Nolan, Or ?????

The rumors are already floating about the future head coach without Sparano being canned. There are a few top candidates, and with owner Stephen Ross wanting to be a celeb love, the next head coach will be someone who will make headlines.

Recycled coaches: Those coaches such as Marty Mornegwig, Mike Singletary, or John Fox will probably not land in Miami. I believe the owner wants a bigger name and not one just fired or having a history of losing.

Coming out of college: Mike Leach has been a name thrown around. His offense is more designed for the college game. Jim Harbaugh is the hottest name from the college ranks to be a pro coach. Harbaugh will be in Michigan, Carolina, San Francisco, or return to Stanford before he becomes a Dolphins head coach. I do not believe he is a big enough name for Ross to go after.

Cowher Power: Many would love to see Coach Cowher to come to South Beach. The coach already stated he would come back to coaching for the Texans, G-Men, or Dolphins. The Dolphin job will truly show how good he really is as the team needs help. The Jaw is a motivator and good judge of talent. The only drawback is he is a defensive guru. Mike Nolan would be out. What the Dolphins need is an offense.

The Coordinator: Mike Nolan has the defense playing well. This is where he should remain, as defensive coordinator. If Nolan is hired, he may be another in the long list of coordinator to head coach failures.

Chucky: John Gruden would probably be the best fit for the job. He could bring in a franchise QB, either through the draft or free agency, and actually develop the player. Gruden is an offensive type coach, where the Dolphins are severely lacking. This situation could be beneficial as Mike Nolan can remain to coach the defense.

No matter who is hired next, the new coach needs to bring in a new attitude and swagger which is missing from this team. There is decent talent on this team, it just needs to be coached.