Bob Flynn

Since 1969 the name Bob Flynn and has b e e n synonymous with Bates College skiing. When he became head coach in that year his goal was to resurrect a once proud program and he did it by recruiting heavily among Maine skiers. In 22 years as head coach skiers came to Bates from all over the state, Rumford, Farmington, Wilton, Jay, Bethel, Raymond, Casco, Rangeley, Manchester, Winthrop, Kents Hill, Rumford Point, Kingfield, Waterford, Bath, Scarborough, New Sweden, Rockland, Portland, Rockport and Auburn, along with other Maine communities. He took great pride in the contribution of Maine skiers to the Bates ski teams.

A mark of any coach is the success of his skiers both while under his tutelage and beyond. A number of Flynn’s skiers have been named to EISA All East Ski Teams and many participated in NCAA National Championships. The greatest success during his tenure as head ski coach was achieved by Nancy Ingersoll Fiddler a 14 time national champion who began her career at Bates. In addition, All American honors at Bates Fiddler went onto a successful career on the US Cross Country Team from 1988 to 1993 and skied in two Olympics, 1988 and 1992, and on the FIS team in 1987, 89,91, and 93.

Many of his skiers have followed Bob’s example into careers in skiing. Fiddler is Head Coach of Skiing at the Tamarack Lake ski Center in Mammoth Lakes, California. Others Bates skiers include Mark Godomski, Head alpine Coach at Colby and director of the Gould Academy of Skiing Program, Andrew Gardner, Head Nordic Coach at Middlebury, Reid Lutter, President of the National Cross Country Ski Education Foundation in St. Paul, MN and Becky Woods Flynn, Head Nordic Coach at Bates. Other ski team members have gone on to top careers in the top professions, medicine, law, education and business. They have succeeded in all walks of life reflecting on the training they received under Coach Flynn.

From 1969 to 1990 his men’s teams were always in the top ten in EISA competition winning the Division III title in 1971, during a five year period that saw a 2nd, two 3rd’s, and a 4th place finish. The team also won a pair of Maine titles and qualified for the NCAA’s ten times. Bob also coached the Bates women and never finished out of the top ten from 1975 to 1990 in the WEISA championships. These teams went to seven NCAA championships. I

n 1976 Flynn made his big dream a reality when Bates hosted the NCAA Championships at Rumford and Sunday River. The event was a huge success and Bates finished 9th, their best ever national finish. In addition to coaching, Bob has been active in every aspect of the sport, serving as President of the Maine Alpine Racing Assoc. and the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Assoc. Other organizations he has served or chaired the American Intercollegiate Ski Assoc., NCAA Rules Committee and numerous other committees and groups. This dedication to skiing and other sports has led to many awards and this service has earned Bob Flynn a place in the Maine Ski Hall of Fame.