MICKEY SPARANO

Coach
​Inducted in 1999

Coach Michael “Mickey” Sparano was inducted as a coach into the SHSAA Packer Sports Greats in 1999.

Mickey coached wrestling at South High School from 1953-1960 and was considered one of Nebraska's most successful wrestling coaches. His teams won 5 straight state championships (1955-1960) and many city titles during his time at South.  He was named the national high school Coach of the Year in 1960

He also was an assistant for Cornie Collin in basketball and Clete Fischer in football.

He left South in 1960 to coach at NU, where the 1943 Tech graduate had been a Big Seven champion in 1948 and took runner-up in 1950, but stayed only one season before leaving for private business as a club manager and owner.

He was a father figure to many of his students.  He was a very active contributor to SHSAA fundraisers.  

Coach Michael “Mickey” Sparano of Omaha died 8-31-02 of Lou Gehrig’s disease.