Tony Sparano

Football
Center/Head Coach
(1978-81/1994-98)

Inducted 1999

Tony Sparano enters the Hall of Fame both as a player and as one of the most successful head coaches in school history. He was a member of the 1979 team that posted the first undefeated record in school history (8-0-1). As a head coach, Sparano posted a 41-14-1 record in five seasons at the helm of the Chargers. The highlight of Sparano’s five seasons was a 12-2 record in 1997 and a trip to the 1997 National Championship fame in Florence, Alabama. New Haven was the first team from Connecticut ever to play in a National Championship football game and the smallest school ever according to enrollment to play for the Division II National Title. Sparano posted a 4-2 record in NCAA Playoff competition. Sparano left the Chargers in February of 1999 to join mentor and former New Haven head coach Chris Palmer on the coaching staff of the expansion Cleveland Browns. Sparano’s .732 winning percentage is third all-time among New Haven head coaches.