ANDERSON — Certainly the tears shown by members of the Indianapolis Colts organization on Monday afternoon weren’t the only displays of sadness felt throughout the state.
When Colts coach Tony Dungy announced his retirement in a news conference, the news brought a big sense of loss that was felt through this area as well.
“It’s a sad day for all of us,” said Highland athletic director Neil Rector. “Indiana as a state has lost a great leader. He has made such a positive impact. He’s a man with strong conviction and principles. I just can’t say enough good things about him.”
“I’m really sad,” said Liberty Christian athletic director and boys basketball coach Jason Chappell. “He was a great Christian role model, not just for people but for players and coaches. He exhibits the qualities that Christ had. He’s a very positive person.”
Dungy will be greatly missed as both a coach and as a man after seven years of leaving his mark on Indiana’s football consciousness.
“The football profession lost a tremendous role model,” said Pendleton Heights athletic director and football coach John Broughton. “He was a little different. I think if you ask most people for an image of a football and it’s not him — maybe a preacher. He never put up with any shenanigans. Most of his players didn’t do that real fancy stuff after touchdowns.”
Even though Dungy had always insisted his decision to return would be on a year-by-year basis, the decision took some by surprise.
“I thought he would come back,” said Jack Smith, an Anderson resident who is a big fan of Dungy and the team. “I hate to see him leave. He was a good man before he was a good coach, but he was an awfully good coach.”
Others clearly understood the decision.
“He’s accomplished in the football arena what he wanted to,” said Rector. “Now he’s ready to do something else.”
Dungy won the Super Bowl two years ago and made history in the bargain, becoming the first black head coach to claim that title.
“As an African-American coach, he was a good role model because of the things he stood for,” said Highland boys basketball coach Jeff Howard. “He believed in doing things the right way, regardless of what public opinion was. What he stood for is a model for what all coaches should stand for. I think one of the reasons he had success is because he had good people around him.”
At his news conference Dungy said he would miss meeting with Colts President Bill Polian next week to discuss the upcoming college combine to evaluate players for this year’s draft. That put in the spotlight exactly how the job as an NFL head coach has evolved into a 12-month-a-year proposition.
“You’ve got to make time for your family,” said Chappell. “I’m just a basketball coach and an athletic director and I don’t have enough time for my family. I can only imagine how he doesn’t have enough time for his.”
Dungy’s clan includes his wife, Lauren, and five children: daughters Tiara and Jade as well as sons Eric, Jordan and Justin.
“Hopefully his qualities will continue with the Colts,” said Chappell. “He had a different style and he won with it.”
Now it will be up to incoming coach Jim Caldwell to follow and fill some very big shoes. Caldwell will be introduced by the Colts at a news conference today.
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