Tony Dungy - Wikipedia

Thank you my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that October 6 is the anniversary of the birth of former professional American football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL) and Christian husband and father, Anthony Kevin Dungy who was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 2001, and head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2002 to 2008.

1. Background from Washington Speakers Board at wsb.com/speakers/biography.cfm?SpeakerID=3111
"Tony Dungy
Former Head Coach, 2007 Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts And Football Analyst, NBC Sports

Exclusively WSB
Tony Dungy retired in 2009 after a 31-year NFL career. In 13 seasons as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dungy amassed a 148-79 overall record and reached the postseason an unprecedented ten straight times. His teams averaged more wins in the regular season than those of any head coach in NFL history. On February 4, 2007, Dungy became the first African American coach to lead his team to a championship when his Colts defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI. At the age of 25 Dungy became, at the time, the youngest assistant coach in league history and then at age 28, its youngest coordinator. As a player, Dungy won his first Super Bowl ring as a member of the 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers; he is one of only three individuals to have won the Super Bowl as both a player and a head coach. In 2016, Dungy was selected to join the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Upon retirement from coaching, Dungy became an analyst for NBC’s Football Night in America and was nominated for an Emmy Award in his very first season as a television commentator.

Known for a leadership style that emphasizes decency and respect, his priorities of faith and family were always evident in his coaching. Dungy discussed these values, which have been praised and adopted by a crop of his assistant coaches who would go on to NFL head coaching positions themselves, in his memoir, Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life, a #1 New York Times best seller. Dungy’s second book, a children’s book entitled You Can Do It!, reached #1 on the New York Times list of best-selling children’s picture books. In Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance, a New York Times best seller in the hardcover advice category, Dungy reveals a path to achieving success and meaning in one’s life, reflecting on lessons he learned from his parents, during his career and through his faith. In August of 2010, Dungy released The Mentor Leader, another New York Times best seller in the hardcover advice category. Most recently, Tony and wife Lauren released a new book entitled You Can Be a Friend, which teaches children what it means to be a good friend.

Dungy is committed to a wide variety of organizations, including Abe Brown Ministries, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Dungy Family Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs and All Pro Dad. Tony and his wife, Lauren, head up the Dungy Family Foundation, a non-profit organization they founded with the goal of strengthening communities by helping those in need. In retirement, Dungy devotes his passion and experience to programs that inspire him, especially those that benefit and speak to young men and enjoys spending as much time as possible with his wife and children."

2. Background from blackpast.org/aah/tony-dungy-1955
"Tony Dungy, a former professional football player and current coach for the Indianapolis Colts, is the first African American coach to win the Super Bowl. Dungy has been hailed as a coaching genius, changing losing organizations into winners. Despite overwhelming personal and professional obstacles, he continues to be the picture of humility, simultaneously earning respect both on and off the field because of his strong convictions and high personal standards of ethics and behavior.

Tony Dungy was born on October 6, 1955, in Jackson, Michigan to Wilbur and CleoMae Dungy, both of whom were educators. Early on, his family placed a great deal of emphasis on academics and intellectual achievements as much as athletic ones. However, even in a household where the focus was on education, Dungy was drawn to sports, particularly football. He attended Jackson’s Parkside High School, where he played guard for the basketball team and quarterback for the football team. Dungy excelled as an athlete and was even featured in the Sports Illustrated section, “Faces in the Crowd,” in 1970. His immense talent and numbers would not go unnoticed by colleges and recruiters around the nation.

In 1973 University of Minnesota head coach Cal Stoll recruited him. By the end of his freshman year at Minnesota, Dungy had cracked the starting lineup. From 1973-1976 he was the star quarterback for the Golden Gophers. He finished his college career ranked fourth in total offense among all players in the history of the Big Ten conference.

In 1977, Dungy signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played as a reserve-special team’s player for the Steelers in 1977 and the Super Bowl champion 1978 seasons, leading the team in interceptions in the latter campaign. In 1979, he briefly played for the San Francisco 49ers before being traded a year later to the New York Giants, with whom he finished his career in 1980. After his short stint in the National Football League (NFL), Dungy dedicated himself to coaching.

In 1980 Dungy was invited to become an assistant coach for his alma mater the University of Minnesota, where he remained for one season. In 1981, he returned to the NFL as an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He quickly began to rise through the ranks and in 1982 he was named defensive backfield coach. In 1984 he became not only the lone black defensive coordinator in the NFL but also the youngest in its history. He left the Steelers in 1989 to become the defensive backs coach for the Kansas City Chiefs and in 1992 took over as defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings. While at Minnesota, Dungy's defense was ranked first in the NFL.

His dream of coaching an NFL team was made reality in 1996, when he was hired as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dungy systematically transformed his team from bottom-of-the-heap to playoff contention: the Buccaneers made four playoff appearances and won their division in 1999. Dungy became the winningest coach in Buccaneers’ history. Despite his successes, he was unable to take the team to the Super Bowl and was fired in 2001 due to his lack of playoff success.
In 2002, Dungy was hired as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. Early on he had mixed results as he methodically re-tooled the team’s defenses. Despite the team making the playoffs every year, it wasn’t until 2006 that they advanced to the Super Bowl. On February 4, 2007, Dungy and the Indianapolis Colts faced Lovie Smith and the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI-- never before had two black coaches faced each other in the Super Bowl. The Colts won the game 29-17 and Dungy made history as the first black coach to win the Super Bowl.

Outside of football, Dungy’s charitable contributions have earned him much reverence and admiration. He has been active in many community service organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club and has founded a youth mentoring program. In addition, he is very active in his church and various Christian organizations. In 2007, George W. Bush appointed him to the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation."

Ignite Men's Conference 2015 - Tony Dungy - An Uncommon Life - Wildfire 2015
"The Second Session From The Ignite Men's Conference 2015.
Tony talks about his life and the most important key to living an uncommon life."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUz7-5xf8Qs

FYI Maj William W. "Bill" Price Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown 1stSgt Eugene Harless CW5 John M. MSG Andrew White SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4"SCPO Morris Ramsey SGT Michael Thorin SGT (Join to see) SGT Robert George SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SP5 Robert Ruck SPC Margaret Higgins SSgt Brian Brakke Sgt Arthur Caesar SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL

Outstanding Christian man!

Great Coach - he knew how to get the best out of the teams he coached. Detroit should be so lucky.