Is Dungy a great coach? (1 Viewer)

[pizzatyme]

I thought I'd get the perspective of the board after having a lengthy debate on one of the Colts fan message boards.

I contend that Dungy is able to lead during the regular season but is a suspect playoff coach. He has had more talent to work with than other coaches with 1 SB win. In light of the cheating, maybe that has stymied his wins, but I don't necessarily think so.

I say Gruden won where he couldn't. Others say Gruden won with his team.

I say regular season wins mean little in the grand scheme of things if you don't do something in the playoffs. Others say his regular season and playoff success is in line with other "greats" in coaching.

What is the honest sentiment of the board? Based on him coaching the likes of:

Manning/ Harrison/ Wayne/ Edge/ Addai/ Bob Sanders/ Freeney/ Dallas Clark, etc. do you feel he should have more wins? Is he one of the greatest coaches of all time based on his regular season record and 1 SB win?

Thanks!

 

[Sea Bass]

He is most certainly a great coach.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

1. This man took over a job that no one and I mean no one wanted in Tampa bay back in 1994-1995...they were truly awful and he was not very high on the list of possible coaches for the position. He then turned around one of the worst NFL franchises in history. He gave them and the city of Tampa respect.

2. He has a record of 127-65 as a HC in the NFL, good for a winning pct of 66%...not a lot of coaches can boast that. He is 9-9 in the playoffs, certainly not the best but far from a Schottenheimer type post season. And he has a ring...bottom line he actually has won the SB and not many coaches at all can say that. Shanahan, Gruden, Billichick, Coughlin, it's not a very long list of active coaches.

3. He is a man of faith but he is simply just a damn good person. he poured a lot into Tampa, he has poured a lot into Indianapolis, and while I'm certainly not a promise keeper, that program is near and dear to his heart and I admire him for putting his faith out there. You don't have to be a Christain to see that he isn't faking it, he's not a hypocrite, he is really someone that the church should be putting up as their poster child. the guy is simply a class act all the way around and he has had his fair share of adversity.

4. He's African American an when he wa coaching back in 1995, I don't think there were but maybe 1-2 other African American Coaches...and they were not getting the best teams to take over either...the Bucs and Colts have sure lost their fare share of games befroe Dungy arrived.

1st ballot HoF all day long.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

Dungy's great.

He's sort of a "latter day Bill Cowher" in some respects. He gets devalued because he doesn't have a fist full of rings, but it's overlooked that his team can't get ANY rings if they don't win in the regular season too. Dungy's teams have been in contention for their respective conference titles for the lion's share of his HCing career(as Cowher's were in his time). He's certainly part of the reason that's happened.

 

[by_the_sea_wannabe]

3. He is a man of faith but he is simply just a damn good person. he poured a lot into Tampa, he has poured a lot into Indianapolis, and while I'm certainly not a promise keeper, that program is near and dear to his heart and I admire him for putting his faith out there. You don't have to be a Christain to see that he isn't faking it, he's not a hypocrite, he is really someone that the church should be putting up as their poster child. the guy is simply a class act all the way around and he has had his fair share of adversity. 4. He's African American an when he wa coaching back in 1995, I don't think there were but maybe 1-2 other African American Coaches...and they were not getting the best teams to take over either...the Bucs and Colts have sure lost their fare share of games befroe Dungy arrived.1st ballot HoF all day long.

What does either of these points have to do with him being a great coach or not?Great coach no doubt, even if he was white and an atheist

 

[Borat]

1st ballot HoF all day long.

With one Super Bowl ring? He's not even a Hall of Fame coach, let alone a 1st ballot Hall of Fame coach.

 

[by_the_sea_wannabe]

1st ballot HoF all day long.

With one Super Bowl ring? He's not even a Hall of Fame coach, let alone a 1st ballot Hall of Fame coach.

I wonder what Madden, Grant, and Levy would say.

 

[stevegamer]

I contend that Dungy is able to lead during the regular season but is a suspect playoff coach. He has had more talent to work with than other coaches with 1 SB win. In light of the cheating, maybe that has stymied his wins, but I don't necessarily think so.I say Gruden won where he couldn't. Others say Gruden won with his team.I say regular season wins mean little in the grand scheme of things if you don't do something in the playoffs. Others say his regular season and playoff success is in line with other "greats" in coaching.What is the honest sentiment of the board? Based on him coaching the likes of:Manning/ Harrison/ Wayne/ Edge/ Addai/ Bob Sanders/ Freeney/ Dallas Clark, etc. do you feel he should have more wins? Is he one of the greatest coaches of all time based on his regular season record and 1 SB win?Thanks!

I note a couple things:1. There is really no question that the Gruden SB win was done with the Dungy/Kiffen defense. Gruden won with Dungy's defense - which was the strong part of the Bucs. If you disagree with this, then there's really not much to discuss. Anything can happen in the playoffs, and getting there regularly is a mark of a good coach.2. Regular season wins mean a lot in the grand scheme of things. 1 team wins the Super Bowl every year, and only 2 teams play there. Only 1-2 good coaches every year or more? And if you're not putting the team together that can win in th regular season, it won't happen in the playoffs because you won't get there.3. Credit for building a completely pathetic franchise (TB) - they had a brief bllip of success with the Selmons, et al, but really Dungy is the guy who put them on the map for success.4. You didn't mention any of the "talent" at TB, which he was heavily responsible for getting assembled. He's one of the greatest active coaches without question - he's got a really good winning percentage, makes the playoffs almost always once the team is together, and has a ring. All-time is more a question for when he's done, but I think he's a Hall of fame coach if he retires tomorrow.

 

[Ice Cream Man]

What does either of these points have to do with him being a great coach or not?Great coach no doubt, even if he was white and an atheist

Because his effectiveness as coach flows in large part to his adherence to Christian teachings: his approach to players, media, and people in general, is fairly unique in the NFL. This is not to say atheist's can't be good coaches. Or that Christians can't be bad ones. Just that, in Dungy's case, we can clearly see what has contributed to his success.

 

[Yenrub]

1st ballot HoF all day long.

With one Super Bowl ring? He's not even a Hall of Fame coach, let alone a 1st ballot Hall of Fame coach.

:X I think he is a great coach. The job he did in Tampa proved it to me.

 

[switz]

1st ballot HoF all day long.

With one Super Bowl ring? He's not even a Hall of Fame coach, let alone a 1st ballot Hall of Fame coach.

Are you serious??? You either hate the Colts, Tampa, or Dungy... any objective person can see Dungy has been a GREAT nfl coach. Definitely a HOF coach, and IMO also a 1st ballot HOF coach.

 

[trader jake]

Don't kid yourself Borat...Tony Dungy is a 1st ballot Hall Of Famer. Needless to say I believe that he's a great coach. Should he have won more? Regular Season his teams are fantastic, so I doubt that is the question here.

More Super Bowls? No. It's just so difficult to win it all and winning one with the Colts says a lot. His team winning one in Tampa also has to reflect on his ability as a coach even if Gruden ended up getting the Bucs over the hump. That franchise was a joke when he arrived.

More playoff games? Yes. His teams have been bumped a bit too early a bit too often in the playoffs. That doesn't mean he isn't a HoF head coach but it does keep him completely out of the best head coaches of all-time discussion.

 

[Jercules]

I contend that Dungy is able to lead during the regular season but is a suspect playoff coach. He has had more talent to work with than other coaches with 1 SB win. In light of the cheating, maybe that has stymied his wins, but I don't necessarily think so.I say Gruden won where he couldn't. Others say Gruden won with his team.I say regular season wins mean little in the grand scheme of things if you don't do something in the playoffs. Others say his regular season and playoff success is in line with other "greats" in coaching.What is the honest sentiment of the board? Based on him coaching the likes of:Manning/ Harrison/ Wayne/ Edge/ Addai/ Bob Sanders/ Freeney/ Dallas Clark, etc. do you feel he should have more wins? Is he one of the greatest coaches of all time based on his regular season record and 1 SB win?Thanks!

I note a couple things:1. There is really no question that the Gruden SB win was done with the Dungy/Kiffen defense. Gruden won with Dungy's defense - which was the strong part of the Bucs. If you disagree with this, then there's really not much to discuss. Anything can happen in the playoffs, and getting there regularly is a mark of a good coach.

Gruden inherited a great defense just like Dungy inherited a great offense. You've got to give Dungy credit for his work in Tampa, no question, but there's no way he has a SB without being handed Manning & Co. To me Dungy seems like a cruise control type coach. He runs a steady ship and he does a good job dealing with players, but he's not much for the X's and O's (a lot like **** Vermeil actually). Borderline HoF, he probably gets in because of extraneous factors just like Madden did."In light of the cheating..." what cheating was he found guilty of?

 

[pizzatyme]

Don't kid yourself Borat...Tony Dungy is a 1st ballot Hall Of Famer. Needless to say I believe that he's a great coach. Should he have won more? Regular Season his teams are fantastic, so I doubt that is the question here.More Super Bowls? No. It's just so difficult to win it all and winning one with the Colts says a lot. His team winning one in Tampa also has to reflect on his ability as a coach even if Gruden ended up getting the Bucs over the hump. That franchise was a joke when he arrived.More playoff games? Yes. His teams have been bumped a bit too early a bit too often in the playoffs. That doesn't mean he isn't a HoF head coach but it does keep him completely out of the best head coaches of all-time discussion.

I could buy these arguments! To win more championships is tough, to win more playoff games should be expected with Manning et al.

 

[pizzatyme]

I contend that Dungy is able to lead during the regular season but is a suspect playoff coach. He has had more talent to work with than other coaches with 1 SB win. In light of the cheating, maybe that has stymied his wins, but I don't necessarily think so.I say Gruden won where he couldn't. Others say Gruden won with his team.I say regular season wins mean little in the grand scheme of things if you don't do something in the playoffs. Others say his regular season and playoff success is in line with other "greats" in coaching.What is the honest sentiment of the board? Based on him coaching the likes of:Manning/ Harrison/ Wayne/ Edge/ Addai/ Bob Sanders/ Freeney/ Dallas Clark, etc. do you feel he should have more wins? Is he one of the greatest coaches of all time based on his regular season record and 1 SB win?Thanks!

I note a couple things:1. There is really no question that the Gruden SB win was done with the Dungy/Kiffen defense. Gruden won with Dungy's defense - which was the strong part of the Bucs. If you disagree with this, then there's really not much to discuss. Anything can happen in the playoffs, and getting there regularly is a mark of a good coach.

Gruden inherited a great defense just like Dungy inherited a great offense. You've got to give Dungy credit for his work in Tampa, no question, but there's no way he has a SB without being handed Manning & Co. To me Dungy seems like a cruise control type coach. He runs a steady ship and he does a good job dealing with players, but he's not much for the X's and O's (a lot like **** Vermeil actually). Borderline HoF, he probably gets in because of extraneous factors just like Madden did."In light of the cheating..." what cheating was he found guilty of?

Not him cheating, I was referencing the patriots cheating ways and how they may have kept Dungy from more playoff success.

 

[Team Legacy]

I put Cowher, Dungy and Holmgren as Hall of Famers.

 

[Pots]

4. He's African American an when he wa coaching back in 1995, I don't think there were but maybe 1-2 other African American Coaches...and they were not getting the best teams to take over either...the Bucs and Colts have sure lost their fare share of games befroe Dungy arrived.

Although I agree with you that he's a great head coach, this shouldn't be a factor of consideration IMO. The color of one's skin should not determine their 'greatness' as an NFL head coach. If your point was to emphasize he took over stuggling franchises, then that was already covered in your other posts.

 

[pizzatyme]

Let's leave race out of the equation.

 

[mdog1967]

I thought I'd get the perspective of the board after having a lengthy debate on one of the Colts fan message boards.I contend that Dungy is able to lead during the regular season but is a suspect playoff coach. He has had more talent to work with than other coaches with 1 SB win. In light of the cheating, maybe that has stymied his wins, but I don't necessarily think so.I say Gruden won where he couldn't. Others say Gruden won with his team.I say regular season wins mean little in the grand scheme of things if you don't do something in the playoffs. Others say his regular season and playoff success is in line with other "greats" in coaching.What is the honest sentiment of the board? Based on him coaching the likes of:Manning/ Harrison/ Wayne/ Edge/ Addai/ Bob Sanders/ Freeney/ Dallas Clark, etc. do you feel he should have more wins? Is he one of the greatest coaches of all time based on his regular season record and 1 SB win?Thanks!

Hate the Colts, but Dungy is one of the All time greats, its Payton that choked away a few playoff wins.

 

[Norseman]

Let's leave race out of the equation.

His success has open the door for more African-American coaches, so it shouldn't be eliminated from the equation.

 

[wildbill]

Dungy coached six years in Tampa, and has coached six years in Indianapolis.

In his six years in Tampa the team was a combined 54-42 (0.563). In the six years before he arrived they were 32-64 (0.333). He improved their winning percentage by 0.229.

In his six years in Indianapolis the team has been a combined 73-23 (0.760). In the six years before he arrived they were 44-52 (0.458). He improved their winning percentage by 0.302.

In twelve years as a head coach his team has finished below 0.500 just once, going 6-10 in his first season in Tampa. His teams have been to the playoffs ten times, winning six division titles and one Super Bowl.

So yeah, he's a great coach.