Raiders Introduce Sparano As Head Coach, Say Turnaround Is 'Doable'
OAKLAND (CBS SF) - The Tony Sparano era begins in Oakland after a delayed and subdued press conference at Raiders headquarters in Alameda, where new head coach Tony Sparano described replacing friend Dennis Allen as head coach as a "bittersweet" moment.
The Raiders confirmed the promotion of the former Miami Dolphins head coach earlier in the day, but made the hiring of the interim coach official at the 2:40 p.m. event which was originally scheduled for 2 p.m.
General Manager Reggie McKenzie introduced Sparano almost immediately after starting the press conference.
McKenzie did say the responsibility for the team's 0-4 start "fell on him," but seemed to shift the blame in other comments.
Sparano said "We're all responsible" for the start, but described a turnaround as "doable" with the people already on the roster.
Sparano coached the Dolphins from 2008 to 2011 before he was fired late in the 2011 season, finishing with an overall 29-32 record. He was offensive coordinator for the New York Jets in 2012. He had been working with the Raiders' offensive line before the move.
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McKenzie said he will be in charge of finding a permanent coach, but deflected questions about whether he would hold his job long enough to do so.
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