Reports: Tony Sparano added to Raiders coaching staff

Originally published on SBReport.net on Jan. 23, 2013

Reports have surfaced that the Raiders have hired former Jets offensive coordinator Tony Sparano to fill their offensive line coach vacancy, while also naming him their assistant head coach.

Sparano was also head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2008-2011, and has been coaching in the NFL since 1999, giving him valuable coaching experience to a relatively young coaching staff in Oakland.

The 51-year-old coach last served as an offensive line coach with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003-2007 under Bill Parcells until 2006.

Sparano is expected to help offensive coordinator Greg Olson re-implement a power-blocking scheme into the Raiders offense after the offensive line struggled with Greg Knapp's zone-blocking scheme.

It had been reported that Sparano was being interviewed for other offensive line coaching openings around the league before Raiders head coach Dennis Allen and general manager Reggie McKenzie reportedly inked him to the coaching staff.