Dungy denies reports of interest in head job at Minnesota

INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts coach Tony Dungy has no plans for returning to college, even if he gets a call from his alma mater, Minnesota.

Dungy on Tuesday denied a report out of Minneapolis saying he was near the top of the Golden Gophers' wish list and that there was mutual interest.

The job opened Sunday when coach Glen Mason was fired, two days after his team blew a 31-point lead in a 44-41 loss to Texas Tech. It was the largest rally in Division I-A bowl history.

Dungy said he understood why his name would be linked to the job.

"I think that might be the case because I went to school there, but I'm not a college coach and I never have been a college coach," he said. "I'm not sure who's on their list. But I'm not a college coach. I'm flattered, but I'm not interested."

Dungy is 60-20 with Indianapolis and has led the Colts to the playoffs in each of his five seasons. He's also won four straight AFC South titles and has taken teams to the playoffs in each of the last eight years, a string that began while he was with Tampa Bay.

In 11 seasons as an NFL head coach, Dungy is 114-62.

Dungy, 51, played with the Gophers from 1973-76 and was the school's career leader in yards passing (3,577) and touchdowns (25) when he graduated. He also ran for 1,345 yards and 16 TDs during his college career.

He has occasionally referenced his ties to the Gophers and singled out Colts players who attended the University of Minnesota.

Dungy spent one season as the Gophers' defensive back coach in 1980, then moved to the NFL, first as an assistant with the Pittsburgh Steelers.