Tragedy for Dungy family

This photo shows James Dungy in high school.

The son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Tony Dungy's has died.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said 18-year old James Dungy was found unconscious in his apartment near the University of South Florida early Thursday morning.

Deputies said Dungy was discovered by his girlfriend, Antoinette Anderson, when she returned from a walk at the Campus Lodge Apartments at about 1:30 a.m. Dungy had at least one roommate, but he was apparently asleep at the time.

"The initial deputy, when he got there, performed CPR on 18-year-old James Dungy," said Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Debbie Carter. "He continued to perform CPR until Hillsborough County Fire Rescue arrived on the scene. They took over and he was then transported to University Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead."

The sheriff's office said there were no visible signs of trauma to the body and no signs of foul play.

"Based on evidence at the scene, indications are that this death appears to be a suicide," the sheriff's office said late Thursday afternoon. "There is no other information to contradict that at this time. However, the autopsy has not been completed."

Tony Dungy, who has four other children, is currently the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. He has left the Colts indefinitely and returned to Tampa, asking the team to press on without him. Assistant head coach Jim Caldwell has taken over the team.

The Dungy family arrived in Tampa from Indianapolis late Thursday morning.

Tony Dungy and his family arrived in Tampa on the Colts' private plane Thursday morning.

"The thoughts and prayers of everyone in this building are with Tony and (wife) Lauren, their children and their extended family, and for the repose of James' soul," Colts team president Bill Polian said at a news conference at the team's training facility in Indianapolis. "This is a tragedy for the Dungy family and by extension his football family here with the Colts."

When the family moved to Indianapolis in 2001, James went with them, but returned to Tampa to enroll at Hillsborough Community College and in USF's Outreach program.

"He was a fun-loving kid that loved to be around people, loved to be around sports," said Mark Kantor, Dungy's football coach at Gaither High School. "You could tell mom and dad did a great job with him."

Dungy had a web space at myspace.com. He last used the site on Wednesday, leaving a comment for a friend saying, "can't talk 2 nobody n e more."

Dungy was a fixture on the sidelines at Bucs' games when his father coached the Bucs from 1996-2001.

"Obviously, he was a younger kid then, full of energy," said Bucs' linebacker Derrick Brooks. "And you just knew he was going to grow up to be a productive young man. Right now I can only give my prayers and my concern to Coach Dungy and his family."

The Buccaneers have announced a moment of silence for James Dungy before this Saturday's game against Atlanta.





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