For Dungy, Long Journey Ends With Tampa Bay Job

Tony Dungy’s long and frustrating journey from the NFL’s youngest defensive coordinator to a head coach ended Monday.

The long-time assistant, interviewed but passed over by four other teams in the last 10 years, will get a shot at trying to turn the Tampa Bay Buccaneers into a winner.

“I feel that they are very, very close,” the 40-year-old Dungy said at a news conference announcing his six-year contract as the sixth coach of the NFL club.

He became only the fourth black head coach in NFL history, behind Art Shell, Dennis Green and Ray Rhodes.

Although the Buccaneers haven’t made the playoffs or finished above .500 since 1982, Dungy said they have young players and a nucleus ready to take off.

He said his first goal is to build a sense of family and togetherness with everybody striving for the same end--a winning team. The

Dungy explained his hiring as a two week process and noted with humor the interest it generated.

“The people in Tampa made me feel so welcome. All the calls to a number I thought was a private number,” he said. “While it was nerve-racking it made me feel good about the interest in football.”

He described himself as “fortunate and blessed by God that he’s given me this opportunity.” He credited football figures in his background who were mentors.

He talked about how General Manager Rich McKay first told him: “You’re the guy that we want.” Dungy said he didn’t want to get too excited at first because a lot can happen before contracts are signed.

“You will grow to like him and you will certainly grow to respect him,” McKay said in introductory remarks.

Dungy, an NFL assistant for 15 seasons, has been the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator since 1992.