INDIANAPOLIS - Tony Dungy insists family always comes before football.

But Dungy believes he can make those priorities coexist - even if it means long commutes.

With his passion to coach high, his family supportive of his ambitions, and the Colts team owner intent on bringing him back, Dungy followed his heart and his family's wishes Monday deciding to return for at least one more season as head coach before turning the job over to his chosen successor, Jim Caldwell.

“I love this franchise, I love my family,” said Dungy, whose contract runs through 2009. “I wouldn't have come back if I was going to shortchange either one, or my children were not for it. It was really a family decision.”

The weeklong deliberation created an emotional tug-of-war for the deeply religious Dungy.

His family recently moved back to Tampa, Fla., and his 16-year-old son, Eric, is attending high school there. The perception was Dungy had to chose between leaving the NFL so he could be spend more time at home - as he often cajoles other parents to do - or becoming a regular commuter on off-days to fulfill family obligations.

Dungy believes he can do both well.

Owner Jim Irsay offered to make Dungy's life easier by reducing his day-to-day workload, provide his own private jet for trips to Tampa, and give Dungy a chance to groom his longtime friend, Caldwell.

It wasn't the offers that convinced Dungy; it was the opportunity to keep winning and the chance to use coaching as a pulpit for his message.

“I enjoy my job, the players, the staff we have here and Bill (Polian) and Jim,” Dungy said. “But it is a platform and that's something I talked to my wife and pastor about. I said 'I could stop and start a ministry, but I might not have a platform like this.' So I see it as a little more than a job.”

Irsay wasn't the only Colts official relieved. Team president Bill Polian was pleased with the outcome, and last week players repeatedly expressed their desire to have Dungy back.

“I think there's not a guy in this locker room who wouldn't love to see him back,” defensive tackle Darrell Reid said then.

The 52-year-old Dungy has spent more than half his life coaching in the NFL and became the first black coach to win a Super Bowl last season. He'd like to add to that collection next season.

By promoting Caldwell to head coach-in-waiting, the Colts could also keep their legacy of stability in the coaching ranks in place.

Two-time league MVP Peyton Manning has played for only two head coaches, Dungy and Jim Mora, and one offensive coordinator, Tom Moore, in 10 seasons.

Running backs coach Gene Huey has been with the team for 16 seasons, offensive line coach Howard Mudd and linebackers coach Mike Murphy for 10, and defensive coordinator Ron Meeks, defensive line coach John Teerlinck and defensive backs coach Alan Williams all came with Dungy in 2002.

“I think that would be the hope and that we do keep moving forward, keep those guys in place, keep the same systems in place and keep getting the same types of players,” Dungy said. “I think that would be Jim's hope.”

Caldwell, who turned 53 last week, has been Manning's quarterback coach for six years and Dungy's assistant head coach the last three. With the unusual succession plan in place, Caldwell also gets a new title, associate head coach.

His only previous head coaching experience on the college or pro level was at Wake Forest where he went 26-63 in eight seasons.

However, he had become a trendy candidate over the past year, interviewing for jobs with the Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens earlier this month and the Arizona Cardinals last January.

Caldwell will now be included in more decision-making discussions although Dungy will retain his vote.

“As far as the duties, those won't change,” Caldwell said. “I'll be working with the quarterbacks and doing what the boss asks me to do. I certainly appreciate the opportunity to lead this team in the future, and I hope it's in the distant future.”

It's not the first time Dungy considered leaving. He often said he was not an NFL “lifer” and that he originally planned to retire by age 50. Many thought he would leave after the 2005 season, following the death of his 18-year-old son, James, but he returned to Indy in 2006 and won the Super Bowl.