Dungy to visit IMU on Thursday

Tony Dungy, former Indianapolis Colts head coach and New York Times Best-Selling Author, will visit IU as part of the tour for his new book “Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance.”

The book signing will last from noon to 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the IU Bookstore in the Indiana Memorial Union. Dungy is scheduled to meet IU football coach Bill Lynch and men’s basketball coach Tom Crean in the morning.

“Some authors block off certain times during the tour,” said Todd Starowitz, book publicist for Dungy. “But Coach Dungy said, ‘You can have this many days, fill it with as much as you want, and we will get it done.’”

IU is the only college stop Dungy will make on his book tour.

Tyndale Associate Publisher and Acquisition Director Jan Long Harris said the decisions for book signing locations are based on where Dungy will appear in the media and where he would be available to his fans.

Tyndale is Dungy’s publishing company.

Starowitz said he knew Dungy had many fans at IU and that he knew the signing would bring excitement to the campus.

The bookstore received 1,400 copies of Dungy’s book for the signing. The bookstore will hand out wristbands, which allow for three books to be signed, to help control the line when books are purchased starting at 8 a.m. Thursday.

Copies of the book are on sale now.

The book costs $24.99 at the IU Bookstore in the IMU, but the bookstore is offering a 20 percent discount the day of the signing.

“The goal is hopefully we can provide everyone that wants one a signed copy,” said Joe Bender, general manager of the IU Bookstore.

Bender also said Dungy will not be able to pose for pictures or sign personalized autographs. Dungy is expected to sign 1,200 to 1,500 copies during the signing, he said.
The line for the signing will form on the second level, the apparel section of the bookstore, and Dungy will sign books on the third level, the bookstore offices.

Starowitz said this book tour has more stops than the tour he helped manage with Dungy for his first book, “Quiet Strength.”

Before traveling to Indiana, Dungy appeared at signings for the current tour in New Jersey, New York and Florida.

He also appeared on TV and radio programs including “Good Morning America,” “The Rush Limbaugh Show” and “The Alan Colmes Show.”

Starowitz said Dungy appeared on a range of media programs because people don’t see him as a Democrat or a Republican, and he appeals to many different groups.

After his stops in Indiana, Dungy will finish the tour with more book signings in Florida.

“He has so much national appeal,” Bender said. “We’re lucky to have him at the IU Bookstore.”

“Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance” tells young people to chart an uncommon path, and Starowitz said it is great for students at IU and all young people.

“We would like it to become more than a book,” Starowitz said. “We want it to be a movement.”