Tony Dungy Shows Us How to Be a 'Mentor Leader'

This is a rush transcript from "On the Record," August 3, 2010. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, FOX NEWS HOST: Do we finally have an answer to the Brett Favre question? We are hearing reports about whether the quarterback star will retire. But before we get to the Favre news, former Colts coach Tony Dungy has big news of his own. His new book "The Mentor Leader" is out in stores today. Coach Dungy joins us live.

Good evening, coach. And I have to start with one thing. We got to give a shoutout to Alan Truman.

TONY DUNGY, FORMER NFL COACH: Yes, we do. Alan was a guy who went to my high school, was a little bit ahead of me, and did some special things for me when I was a 12, 13-year-old kid trying to find my way. And I'm sure I wouldn't be here talking to you today if it weren't for people like Alan especially.

VAN SUSTEREN: You write about him in your book. I read all the wonderful advice you have for everybody. And everyone knows you have done a lot for others.

It is interesting that the one thing that struck me in the book is that a guy Alan Truman who nobody has probably heard about except for his good friends, his neighbors and people back home, is that how he changed your life.

DUNGY: I think that's at point of the book, that you think of leaders and we think of the president of the United States or the president of General Motors. You can have an impact anywhere you are.

And this is a small town, Jackson, Michigan, and a guy who had an impact on someone who nobody knew my name when I was 12-years-old. Now they do. They know me as a Super Bowl winning coach. But at that time I was just another 12-year-old.

And that is the important thing. You can have an impact anywhere. You are going to have an impact either positively or negatively.

VAN SUSTEREN: Think how much fun it is for him. He didn't have to do that. He didn't have to do those things for you. He took the time to do it. He's a couple-years-older than you. Think about the pleasure. I guess why that's the pleasure of you helping others.

Think about how much fun for him as he watched your success. Think how excited it is for him.

DUNGY: I had the chance to have him come to some of our games. I still talk to him on the phone. And to be able to say thanks and how much I appreciate it. And the way I can say thanks is to go back and try to do the same thing, try to mentor other young men and give them advice and a helping hand, because someone did it for me.

VAN SUSTEREN: The book is "The Mentor Leader." And it actually is to explain how you can mentor all the successful things that you have done and received lots of hints and quotes from people.

But I'm curious, how do you inspire or help the unwilling, the person who is unwilling to do for himself?

DUNGY: You really can't. You try and you don't give up. But that person has to accept help.

And that's one of the things I talked about with our team, that as a rookie you have to be willing to listen to the veterans. You can't come in with the idea that you know it all, you've got all the answers. Otherwise we're not going to be a good team that happens. And that happens. You have some rookies that going to listen, and they usually don't last very long.

VAN SUSTEREN: I imagine you've heard all the chatter today. It has not been confirmed about what Brett Favre who played for a team you've been connected with over the years, the Minnesota Vikings. We don't know if it is official nor not. Tonight, how hard do you think it is for him to possibly walk away from the game that he loves? You did it.

DUNGY: It is difficult. I did it. I also thought about it for three or four years before it happened. I wasn't public in my decision-making like Brett has been, and not in the spotlight. But it's hard. You don't know when is the right time.

I will say this, Greta, I wouldn't go into mourning if I were you too soon until I hear from Brett Favre himself. I wouldn't worry about the sources. I still have a lot of friends in the Viking organization and they haven't heard it from him, himself. So I think it is still speculation.

VAN SUSTEREN: I agree. You never know with Brett Favre.

In terms of for you, when you walked away from football, you had a grand career and you've done so much for people. Was it hard?

DUNGY: It was very hard. That's been your life. That's been what you've done. That's where all your friends are. I had 53 guys who were like family to me, those players, 16 coaches. And then to say all of a sudden I'm not going to do that anymore, it is difficult.

I thought I was retiring to something and not away from football, so that helped me.

VAN SUSTEREN: Coach, I've admired your success as a coach, but I admire you for so much more that you've done post coaching and everybody knows about it. But coach, thank you. And we look forward to you coming back for the next book.

DUNGY: Thank you very much, Greta. It's always great being on with you.

VAN SUSTEREN: Nice to see you, sir.