FCA Announces 2009 winners of coaching awards named after Grant Teaff

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes has selected University of Mississippi Head Football Coach Houston Nutt as the recipient of the 2009 FCA Grant Teaff Coach of the Year Award and retired Indianapolis Coach and Super Bowl winner Tony Dungy as the recipient of the FCA Grant Teaff Lifetime Achievement Award.  Both coaches were recognized during the FCA Breakfast held January 13th at the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Convention in Orlando, Florida.

Since being named the Rebels’ 36th head coach in November of 2007, Houston Nutt has guided Ole Miss to success not experienced in Oxford in 40 years.  In his first two years he’s coached the Rebels to consecutive nine-win seasons for the first time since 1961-62 as well as back-to-back January bowl victories for the first time since 1960-61. Following his 2008 SEC Coach of the Year honor, he led his 2009 team to as high as #4 in the national rankings this year. Ole Miss knocked off LSU, Tennessee and Arkansas on their way to a second straight berth at the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic in which the Rebels were victorious against #18 Oklahoma State and finished #20 in the AP Top 25. For ten years prior to Ole Miss, Nutt was head coach at Arkansas, leading them to three SEC Western Division Titles and ten bowl berths. In 2009, Nutt earned his 50th career coaching victory against SEC opponents (52-47 SEC; 93-56 overall as an SEC coach). He is just the 14th conference coach all-time to reach that mark.

Dal Shealy, former FCA President and award selection committee member commented, "I've watched Coach Nutt over many years as a coach and leader. His teams at Murray State, Arkansas and Ole Miss played to a high level and set standards of excellence. Coach Nutt has always encouraged the ministry of FCA, and his players have been involved on and off campus. We are pleased to honor him as our 2009 FCA Grant Teaff Coach of the Year."

Tony Dungy (center) with Grant Teaff (left) and Dal Shealy (right) at AFCA FCA Breakfast

After 31 years in the NFL Tony Dungy is one of the most respected NFL coaches in the league, not only for his coaching skills and successes, but for his character, faith and devotion to family and charitable causes. Now retired from coaching, but as busy as ever, Dungy is best known for his leadership of the Indianapolis Colts for seven years and in 2007 becoming the first African American to win the Super Bowl. In 2008, Dungy set a new NFL record for consecutive play-off appearances by a head coach.

After quarterbacking for the University of Minnesota, Tony Dungy began his NFL career as a safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1977-78) and San Francisco 49’ers (1979) before turning to coaching in 1980 at his alma mater, Minnesota.  In 1981, Dungy moved to the NFL, beginning with the Steelers (assistant and defensive coordinator), then the Chiefs in 1989 (defensive backs coach) and then the Vikings in 1992 (defensive coordinator).  In 1996, he was named head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he coached until 2001.

Since retiring from the Colts in early 2009, Dungy is now a prominent studio analyst on NBC’s Sunday Night Football show as well as a special consultant to the Commissioner of the NFL, and a two-time published author of the New York Times best-seller Quiet Strength (2007) and his latest, Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance (2009). He is also a frequent speaker for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

FCA’s President and CEO, Les Steckel, shared “having observed Tony Dungy for years in the NFL and getting to serve as his offensive coordinator with the Tampa Bay Bucs, I can personally truly endorse this lifetime achievement award for Tony. He’s one of only three people to have a Super Bowl victory as both a player and a head coach. But more than anything, he is a perfect model for what a Christian coach can be and can accomplish.”

Named after Grant Teaff, former Baylor coach, AFCA Executive Director and member of the FCA Board of Trustees, the Coach of the Year Award presented by FCA recognizes a football coach who exemplifies Christian principles and who is involved in FCA. The award is also based on the success/performance of the coach's team that season. Previous winners include Tommy Bowden, Tommy Tuberville, Jim Tressel,  Sylvester Croom and Phil Jones.

The Grant Teaff Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a coach that has committed his life to being a Christian influence on the lives of student-athletes.  Previous winners include Parker Dykes, Jimmie Keeling, Fisher DeBerry, Jerry Moore and Mel Tjeerdsma.