Published: March 26, 2009 12:05 pm      

Pulaski’s Mark Flynn resigns as boys basketball coach

Somerset — Mark Flynn took over the Pulaski County head basketball coaching position on Jan. 24, 2006, after legendary coach Dave Fraley stepped down in midseason.

Four years later, Mark Flynn stepped down from the Pulaski coaching position leaving behind some legendary accomplishments of his own.

On Tuesday, Flynn turned in his letter of resignation as the Maroons’ head basketball coach to Pulaski County High School principal Rob Bowers.

“Mark Flynn stepped down for personal and professional reasons,” Bowers said. “I couldn’t have asked for anything more out of a coach than what he did for our basketball program. Not only was Mark a great coach and role model for our student athletes, but he was a true professional and represented our school in an outstanding manner.”

With less than four years on the job, Flynn amassed three consecutive district championships — a feat that has only happened once in the program’s history when Fraley won triple titles in 1984, 1985 and 1986. Flynn won his first district championship in 2006, while he was still an interim coach, which broke a 13-year district title drought for the program.

Flynn finished his varsity basketball coaching career with a 49-51 record. However, Flynn’s most notable accomplishment was an overall 6-1 record in post-season district tournament play. Flynn’s best season came in 2006-2007, when he guided the Maroons to a 21-10 record.

“Coaching basketball at Pulaski County High School has truly been a great experience for me,” Flynn said. “I have no regrets and I did my best to put our team in a position to win games.”

“I was fortunate to have coached a bunch of quality kids and I could only hope they had an equally rewarding experience while playing under me,” Flynn commented. “I had tremendous support from the school’s administration and the many great Maroon fans.”

Flynn told the Commonwealth Journal, in an interview on Wednesday, that his decision to step down was for more personal reasons.

“There was no negative underlying reasons for my resignation,” Flynn said. “I have two toddlers at home that demand a lot of my attention now.”

“I will continue to be the Maroons’ biggest supporter and I will continue to work at the school and help the students any way I can,” Flynn added.

Flynn’s resignation, coming just three days after the conclusion of the the high school basketball season, will give Bowers and his staff ample time to find a suitable new Pulaski boys basketball coach.

“Mark’s resignation was well planned and thought out beforehand, because now we will have plenty of time to post the opening and find the right candidate for the position,” Bowers commented. “With Mark Flynn’s integrity and character, I wouldn’t have expected anything less. Mark Flynn had the students, the school and the basketball program’s best interest at heart in his decision.”

Bowers said the job search has already begun and he feels confident the position will draw plenty of interest among the basketball coaching ranks.

“We will go through the normal process of posting the position and we will form a selection committee that will be spearheaded by our athletic director, Randy Elmore,” Bowers said.

Bowers explained the hiring committee will be made up of the athletic director, parents, the principal, student athletes currently involved in the program and staff members.

Flynn has had a longstanding history with the Pulaski County High School basketball program. He played for Dave Fraley from 1987 to 1990. He served as an assistant coach under Fraley from 2001 until 2006, at which time he took over as head coach.

“It was tough decision to leave the program after I had played and coached at Pulaski for so many years,” Flynn stated. “I really enjoyed the day-to-day practices and I was fortunate enough to be a part of three district championship teams. I was just as proud of this year’s team because they were a good team that had some tough losses — but they never gave up. Basketball is not always about winning or losing.”