It has been almost a month since McDaniel Coach Bob Flynn suddenly died at his home near Baltimore, MD. In that time, the coach has certainly not been forgotten. His famous red towel is draped over his chair on the McDaniel bench; the team and students still wear “Flynn’s Friends” t-shirts; and as the Green Terror men’s basketball team continues to deal with the loss of a man who was resurrecting the program they still find ways to win and continue the progress Coach Flynn began just two years ago.
Last Wednesday, the team upset Johns Hopkins University which made two things possible (which Gordon Mann also points out in his recent blog), the Blue Jays now have to play Ursinus for the regular season crown and the #1 seed in the Centennial Conference Tournament and McDaniel has a chance to still make the same tournament.
Coach Bob Flynn could not be more proud.
Just the other day, I ran across an article in The (Baltimore) Sun, written by a man who certainly knows Baltimore sports. Simply titled: A Sideline Salute, Paul McMullen’s article brought a tear to my eye, reading about a man who never quit improving himself, his team, or those around him.
Last month I went to Coach Flynn’s viewing and at first was confused. I thought that possibly the funeral home was hosting multiple viewings at the same time. It was nearly impossible to find a parking place and people were streaming in and out of the building like it was an open house. Only after I got out of my car and walked into the funeral home did I realize all these people (adults, teenagers, and kids) were here for one reason… Coach Flynn.
This was actually the second viewing and the funeral home was almost completely full of those wishing to say goodbye and console the Flynn family. I was told the night before, a line wrapped throughout the modest building and out the door on what was just the beginning of a very cold week for Baltimore.
As I looked around, I saw coaches from all over the region. Coach Harney of St. Mary’s who played for Coach Flynn when Harney was a student at SMC and Flynn was working his first magic in resurrecting a program. Coach Dickman of Hood who is Maryland’s all-time winningest high school coach and now in his fourth year of starting a new men’s program at Hood, who had now coached against Flynn both in high school and college. Coach Brett Adams of Villa Julie, who said Coach Flynn was one of those men who was always a phone call away in case help or a sounding board was needed.
There were numerous other coaches from the region and one who had traveled up from Florida that day. I never got his name, but he spoke with me for about 15 minutes about his first coaching job working along side Coach Flynn. He even talked about how Coach Flynn subtly tried to recruit his son, who wasn’t even thinking about Division III schools. I believe the story ended with Coach Flynn saying, “after you look around and you’re no longer interested in Division I or II, giving me a call.”
Referees and administrators mingled with friends and family. And even the current Cardinal Gibbons high school team was there – a team still influenced by what Coach Flynn did for his alma mater over six seasons.
While there were not that many tears, there was certainly sadness and mourning. The line was at least a half hour long, winding its way through several rooms and the hallways. At the end was Tina Flynn, Bob’s wife. She was standing, smiling, and taking every opportunity to say talk with and listen to stories from every single person who passed through the line. Some people she knew well, others – like myself – she only knew through either other people’s stories or reputation.
When I walked up and introduced myself, I hardly had a chance to say how sorry I was when she told me how many great stories and material about her husband she had heard had been on D3hoops.com and Hoopsville. She followed that by up asking me if she could get a copy of that material. I was stunned. I thought we were supposed to be there to consol her. But she was consoling us. And she was reliving Bob Flynn’s life and affect on people through us… and she seemed to thrive on it. Every person who had a story or memory was asked to email or send it to her – something I still need to finish for her.
I got a chance at the beginning of this season to talk with Coach Flynn at the Provident Pride of Maryland Men’s Basketball Tournament at Goucher College. I told him I was impressed with how far the team had come in such a short time and I was looking forward to watching the improvement this season.
And while he is no longer around, it has been nearly a month and the team he was resurrecting in Westminster, MD is still experiencing its best season in recent memory. And while I try and remain impartial in my coverage, I will certainly be rooting on the Green Terror.
And I am sure Coach Flynn is looking down and rooting them on as well.
Bob Flynn was one of the great guys in Division III, and while his teams never really got national notoriety, I would consider him very successful.
When we were just starting out, Bob Flynn was one of the few people in the Capital Athletic Conference who treated us with respect. While many coaches and ADs and SIDs outisde the league were supportive, the folks in the CAC ranged from apathetic to obstructive. But not Coach Flyyn.
He died too soon. 🙁
Coach Flynn was a great guy and a great coach. From the first phone call, we connected on the values of the student’s experience… we played a game in memory (within a month) of coach Ray Mullis’ passing. The signature red towel is in memory of Coach Mullis. His St. Mary’s team played our young and inexperieced Villa Julie team at Cardinal Gibbons (his almamater and the place where he played for Coach Mullis). The proceeds from the fundraising and gate went to the Baltimore chapter of the American Cancer Society. On TV and a homecoming for Bob Flynn in memory of Coach Mullis… Coach Mullis’ wife was in attendance. We weren’t supposed to win, but we did. Coach Flynn was embracing as a friend inviting me with all of the alumni. It was a game for him and the alumni, but he embraced me and with his group. He hailed me “a great person and coach” and included me whole heartedly in his circle of friends. Little did I know how large a circle that would be. He was tremendously proud to be around people in this circle. We shared many of phone calls in the next thirteen years.
My most memorable to follow:
1. When you are meeting with recruits, make sure that your breath is fresh. It is the biggest turn-off for a recruit. They invision you talking with them closely and they can’t imagine four years of green aroma.
2. The season is a long season, when you have an off-night, get a sitter for the kids and get a hotel room locally and take your wife for a romantic dinner and a night together. You’re a great guy and she deserves to be able to spend time with you.
3. Coach to the very end. If you are getting blown out (in the early years, maybe too often), do not sit down. Let them know that you are with them the whole time. More importantly, when you have reserves in the game, it is more important to let them hear your best coaching… they rarely hear it for them during a game; they will know that you care as much about them.
4. In the beginning of the season, take a timeout in the first two minutes, the players are so “jacked” they will need one. Even if it is just to say “hey, isn’t this great.”
5. When you are away, get Emma and Linda (my daughter and wife) something. Let them know that you think of them all the time while you are away. And tell your daughter how pretty she is and how special she is… she will need that later and she will always remember the values that you and Linda have. Emma will want to be with a great guy when she grows up.
6. “You are a great coach, don’t ever forget that” (this was always his statement after we lost… he made sure to call me nearly after every game while he was at St. Mary’s and very frequently there after. On the wins, he would say “great job and I told you so’s”.
We talked over a hundred times in the last thirteen years. He called for advice (AD and coaching). His own coaching moves. Laughter. And to share stories about cooking and family. And occasionally a joke about my five o’clock shadow. But most of all because he was a great person and he wanted me to feel everything in life.
What I also know is, I was one of many he appreciated and embraced.
Division III basketball was fortunate to have him back these past one-and-a-half years.
Too soon.
I worked Notre Dame basketball camp with Bob, and came to relish his friendship. It was more than just basketball, he was a pleasure to be with. He always was upbeat and energetic, even if it was after a long night. His love for the Game and people was always apparent.
When I heard about his passing, it hit me hard, he was much too young and full of life to pass away so young. His friendship will be missed, but his spirit will live on.
Bob’s death was followed closely, by the passing of Tom Feely, the retired coach, at University of St. Thomas. As with Bob, Tom also was influential in my coaching career. Both men thought more about their student athletes then they did about a single game. I wish there were more Bob Flynn’s and Tom Feely’s in our profession.