NFL

Jets name Sparano to replace Schottenheimer

The Jets looked to a familiar face for Brian Schottenheimer’s replacement.

The Jets hired Tony Sparano as their new offensive coordinator, the team announced Wednesday. They faced Sparano the last four years when he was head coach of the Dolphins.

“When we sat down with Tony, I knew that he was the right person at the right time for our offense,” head coach Rex Ryan said in a statement. “I’ve admired his work as a competitor in the division for the past three seasons. His teams were always physical, tough and hard-nosed.”

The 50-year-old from Connecticut guided the Dolphins to an AFC East title in 2008, but the team had consecutive 7-9 seasons before going 6-10 last season. Sparano was fired on Dec. 12 when the team was 4-9 after an 0-7 start.

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Sparano and the Dolphins clinched that AFC East title in 2008 by beating the Jets in the final game of the season.

“I’m very proud to be part of such an outstanding organization and to have an opportunity to work with these players,” Sparano said in a statement. “I know this division very well and I’m looking forward to that challenge. I’d like to thank Mr. Johnson, Mike Tannenbaum and Coach Ryan for giving me the opportunity.”

Before coaching the Dolphins, Sparano was an assistant for the Cowboys under Bill Parcells. He coached the offensive line and was assistant head coach. Sparano called the plays for the team in 2006, and it was Parcells who hired him in Miami.

Sparano is the run-first kind of coach who will click with Jets head coach Rex Ryan. Sparano popularized the Wildcat formation in 2008. Ryan loves the formation, and even went to Schottenheimer late last year and told him to run it more.

The Dolphins’ rushing attack ranked 11th (2008), 4th (’09), 21st (’10) and 11th (’11) in the NFL under Sparano. Their total offense rankings went down every year, however, going from 12th in 2008 to 22nd last year. The team never ranked higher than 15 th in points per game under him.

Sparano always wears sunglasses, even at night, because of an eye condition he has had since he was 17.

He also has coached for the Browns, Redskins and Jaguars.