New Book by Tony Dungy Debuts on Best Sellers List at No. 2
The latest book by former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy became his third consecutive bestseller when it debuted this past week at No. 2 on the New York Times Best Sellers List for Hardcover Advice.
Though it's been over a month since the championship winning coach announced his retirement, Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance shows that Dungy is ready to "coach" a new wave of young men in the game of life – should he decide to do so.
"Where my heart is, is really with our young men right now," he said after ending his 31-year NFL career last month. "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."
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In Uncommon, Dungy reveals lessons on achieving significance that he has learned from his parents, his athletic and coaching careers, his mentors, and his journey with God. The book particularly focuses on what it means to be a man of significance in a culture that is offering young men few positive role models.
"Our young men today are falling into a trap," says Dungy. "Society is telling them material success is what's important, but if we buy into that idea, we can spend a lifetime chasing that success and never really have the positive impact on people that would make our lives truly significant."
Dungy, the first African American head coach to win the Super Bowl, is widely known for his outspoken Christian faith, which has influenced his work on and off the field. Aside from winning six division titles and appearing in three conference championship games, Dungy was involved with a number of charitable organizations and urged players and coaches to get involved in community work, too.
Dungy's faith on and off the field were highlighted in his previous bestselling book, Quiet Strength, which showed readers that there is more to life than just sports, and that humans need God leading their steps no matter where they are.
"I really wanted to show people you can win all kinds of ways," explained the championship coach in his memoir. "For your faith to be more important than your job, for your family to be more important than that job … we all know that's the way it should be … I'm not afraid to say it."
In his new book, Uncommon, Dungy offers readers insight into the daily decisions that lead to an extraordinary lifetime, personal stories from inside the NFL, leadership insights, and unique approaches to mentoring and leading men.
Although his impressive resume suggests that he'd make for an effective life coach, inspiring and teaching younger generations as he did with those he coached in the NFL, Dungy says he's not sure exactly what new goals he'll be pursuing.
What is certain, however, is that with more time on his hands since his retirement, Dungy is looking forward to devoting it to his family and the social causes he embraces.
"I think I've got a responsibility to be home a little bit more, be available to my family a little bit more and do some things to help make our country better," Dungy said last month. "I don't know what that is right now, but we'll see."
Some of the charitable organizations that Dungy has been involved with in recent years include the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Athletes in Action, Mentors for Life, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs, the Prison Crusade Ministry, and All Pro Dad.
He has also worked with Basket of Hope, the Black Coaches Association National Convention, Indiana Black Expo, the United Way of Central Indiana, and the American Diabetes Association.
