Tony and Lauren Dungy’s schedules are tight – booked from morning to night with commitments to their family, church and their various professional endeavors.
So, when I was able to wrestle thirty minutes from them to discuss the release of their upcoming children’s books, I was keen on maximizing our few minutes together. Just before my phone rang, in fact, I gave myself a last-minute pep-talk, quietly affirming, “Be concise, to the point. Don’t waste any time.”
As usual, though, my plan quickly went out the window. My pre-call pep talk fell on predictably, deaf ears. 
I did talk with the Dungy’s about the release of their upcoming children’s books on August 7th – eventually. It only took us about twenty minutes to get there.
Instead, we spent our initial moments talking about the Dungy’s love of RV’ing with their kids – and, boy, am I jealous of the life they lead as a big, happy family of adoption.
“We love to go in the RV and watch the kids explore,” you can feel Lauren’s smile through the phone. The Dungy’s gush about hiking, fishing and the simplicity of being together at campgrounds.
“When we camp, other than the noise our big family makes, we blend in,” Tony Dungy, the Hall of Fame coach, adds, “Sure, people are initially curious, but once that wears off, we’re just another family asking for firewood or a match or whatever. In fact, the family we met yesterday at Mt. Hood were from Tulsa. They plan to come visit us someday.”
As we talk, I can’t help but think of the stories you’d hear from Tony and Lauren Dungy if you were fortunate enough to sit around a campfire with them. (Take note, though, that if you have that opportunity, Lauren is the designated campfire-starter in the family while Coach Dungy takes care of “crowd control” duties.)
I can paint a picture of a chat around a Dungy campfire.
Many of the tales they’d tell, I assume, would start with their devout faith. After all, that is how their life together began.
As Tony tells it, “Meeting Lauren was divine intervention. My teammate was sick so I stood in for him at an event at a church in Pittsburgh. After I was done speaking, the pastor introduced us. A year later, we were married. It’s been a wonderful 36 years together.”
As the fictitious fire crackles to full maturity, the Dungy’s might move on to tell you about the family that surrounds them and how they came to be.
“Our kids range from thirty to two and a half years old. There are seven living with us in the house now. They all have different, special gifts,” I hear pride in Lauren’s soft tone.
How did this huge family come to be?
Lauren is the first to talk about their journey, “I grew up in a home that cherished adoption. My grandparents adopted, my parents fostered over 60 children after raising five kids. In fact, they adopted two kids while in their 60’s. Adoption is such a beautiful thing – it is really a ministry for us.”
Coach Dungy is more chronological as he begins to explore his adoption experience, “Around 1999 or 2000, one of my assistant coaches was adopting. I gave a reference and spoke to a social worker on his behalf. She informed me that there was a backlog of African-American kids in the system that needed help.”
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As our make-believe campfire continues to burn, it’s likely that Tony and Lauren would laugh about the hectic life of their big family. The Dungy’s lives are, like most parents, dominated with kids activities, errands and school drop-off duties.
The couple laughs in unison as I ask them to take me through their mornings. Tony chuckles as Lauren starts, “It’s a little crazy. All seven kids go to different schools so we’re on the go. Most of the time, some of the kids are late while the others are early. That’s just the way it is.”
She continues, “We try to do as much as we can together. All of the kids support each other – at concerts or games – we’re all there to cheer each other on.”
With the obvious cohesion of the Dungy family, it is easy to understand their continued ability to co-write and publish books under the “Team Dungy” byline. The latest two books, Maria Finds Courage and Austin Plays Fair, will be released on August 7th by Harvest House Publishers.
“There is a message in every book we write. Whether it is about courage or sportsmanship or adoption, our books will teach children qualities that we value,” Coach Dungy explains.
So, what can parents expect from the two newest books?
Lauren breaks the books down simply, “In each book, the characters are diverse and that is intentional. These books are for everyone. Austin learns to always play fair, even if you lose. Maria is the new kid in a neighborhood and learns about trying new things, taking risks and how to support friends.”
Maria Finds Courage and Austin Plays Fair are the first of more books to come from Team Dungy through Harvest House – look for the next series of titles to be released in the Spring of 2019.
A quick glance toward my watch tells me that my mythical chat around the campfire with Tony and Lauren Dungy has to end. As much as I dread the questions left unanswered, I leave our brief time together impressed with those answers I’ve heard.
I feel revitalized and uplifted – ready to try to live up to the shining examples that Team Dungy personifies. And, I must admit, tempted to start shopping for an RV that will find its way to a spot next to the Dungy’s in the future.
About Team Dungy:
Tony Dungy’s success in the National Football League as a player and coach, his induction to the NFL Hall of Fame, and his on-going role with NBC as an analyst clearly showcases his impressive career. He is the author of several books, including bestsellers Quiet Strength, The Mentor Leader, and Uncommon. However, it’s the work he and Lauren do outside of football that is truly his heart and soul.
Lauren Dungy is an early childhood educational specialist, best-selling author, and frequently sought-after speaker. A graduate of Duquesne University with a degree in elementary education, she taught school and volunteers as a reading specialist in Title I schools. Lauren has a great passion and love for children, and works closely with several adoption agencies and women’s shelters. She is a devoted wife and mother to ten children.
About Harvest House Publishers:
Harvest KidsTM, an imprint of Harvest House, a Christian publishing company based in Eugene, Oregon, creates a wide variety of products that promote biblical values, spark imagination, and encourage young readers up to 12 to develop a lifelong love of Jesus. The Harvest KidsTM line includes Bibles, picture books, devotionals, and other inspiring products, with a special focus on resources for tweens ages 8 to 12.
