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TechnoratiINDIANAPOLIS – Tony Dungy defied one myth Monday: He does show emotion. He also stuck to his principles. With tears in his eyes and his voice cracking, Dungy said goodbye to the Indianapolis Colts and the NFL, then, in typical Dungy fashion, looked optimistically toward life's next challenges.
(Photo: AP Images / Michael Conroy)Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy speaks after the announcement that he will retire in Indianapolis, Monday, Jan. 12, 2009. Dungy has been a head football coach in the NFL for 13 years, seven with the Colts. He will be replaced by Jim Caldwell.
For the Colts and their fans, that means chasing another Super Bowl title under Dungy's successor, Jim Caldwell. For Dungy, it means spending more meaningful time with his family and on volunteer work.
"Don't shed any tears for me," Dungy said after announcing his retirement. "I've gotten to live a dream that most people don't get to live. What phase two will be, we'll find out. But phase one has been awfully special."
It was a day for the 31-year NFL veteran to laugh, cry and share memories with many of his friends.
Dungy informed the assistant coaches in the morning, met with some players throughout the day and concluded by trading hugs and tears with team owner Jim Irsay and team president Bill Polian.
To fans, it was primarily about the wins.
Dungy became the first black coach to win a Super Bowl, the first to make 10 straight playoff appearances, the first to win 12 games in six straight seasons. His regular-season winning percentage of .668 is fifth all-time among coaches with at least 100 wins and his 10.7 regular-season wins per year is the best among that group, too.
Yet to Dungy, life was never solely about championship rings or division titles.
His top priorities were faith and family, and he never wavered.
In a profession where spare hours are scarce, Dungy made time for the prison ministry, All-Pro Dads and Family First although he always wanted to do more. He urged players and coaches to get involved in community work, too.
Now, Dungy can devote more time to his family and the social causes he embraces.
"I want to do something more with my family and something that would connect more with my goals," he said. "Where my heart is, is really with our young men right now. We have so many guys that didn't grow up like me, didn't have their dad there and that's something I'm very, very interested in."
On the field, Dungy's remarkable success is well documented.
He left Tampa Bay after six seasons as that franchise's career leader in victories (54), and now seven years later, leaves Indianapolis as its franchise leader (85). In 13 seasons, Dungy went 148-79, won six division titles and appeared in three conference championship games — one in the NFC and two in the AFC.
The only blemish was a 9-10 career playoff record. Four of the seven times he took Indy to the playoffs, the Colts failed to win a game.
But his greatest contributions don't show up on a resume.
He entered the league as an assistant in 1981 when there were few black coaches in the NFL. In 1996, Dungy finally got his first head coaching job in Tampa and used the opportunity to help open doors for young coaches and minority candidates.
Graduates from his Buccaneers staff include Kansas City coach Herm Edwards, Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin, Chicago's Lovie Smith and former Detroit coach Rod Marinelli. And now Caldwell.
"I owe Tony a lot," said Smith, one of Dungy's best friends. "I would not be in my position today if it wasn't for him providing me with an opportunity and mentorship. I'm proud to be a member of his coaching tree."
Dungy's impact didn't stop there. Continue >>
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