Zimmer, Sparano have long coaching history

Sid Hartman

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Wednesday that Tony Sparano had been hired to be the team’s new offensive line coach.

“He was the head coach at the Miami Dolphins, interim coach of the Oakland Raiders, an offensive line coach of the Dallas Cowboys, offensive coordinator with the New York Jets,” Zimmer said. “I have known Tony for a long time.”

Sparano coached Miami from 2008-11 and had a 29-32 record, winning the AFC East in his first season.

He was Jets offensive coordinator in 2012, then was an assistant head coach/offensive line in Oakland (2013-14) and San Francisco’s tight ends coach last season.

Sparano also was interim head coach in Oakland in 2014, going 3-9 in 12 games. He…