Long-time staple Flynn named state Assistant Coach of Year

Don Flynn,  Kjell Ellison

Don Flynn (center), accompanied by coach Kjell Ellison, prepares to embrace senior Cade Griffitts following his last match at the state tournament earlier this year. (file photo)

By: 
Joshua Clark, joshua@glenrockind.com

Coach Don Flynn has been named the Winter Assistant Coach of the Year by the Wyoming Coaches Association, according to association Past President Mike Lashley.

 

The award is voted on by WCA member coaches from across the state, with a coach from each in conference in every sport winning an award. For assistant coaches, however, only one across all conferences is chosen as Assistant Coach of the Year.

 

“It was totally unexpected, and I’m incredibly honored to even be nominated for such an award,” Flynn said. “I didn’t even know there was such a thing.”

 

Flynn was notified that he won the award from fellow recipient Jeff Barnett, who was awarded the Winter Junior High/ Middle School Coach of the Year along with Ron Nelson, who coaches at Niobrara County.

 

Flynn is a staple in the Wyoming wrestling community, known across the state from his involvement in USA Wrestling, where he previously served as president of the Wyoming chapter.

 

Flynn has a love of coaching the sport that goes beyond the Glenrock wrestling team.

 

“Don (Flynn) is always willing to help coach any kid,” Glenrock wrestling head coach Kjell Ellison said. “They don’t have to be a Glenrock Herder, he’s willing to help anybody out there. I’ve seen him step up and try to coach a kid if their coach wasn’t at the tournament. The kids appreciate him and give a big ole thank you, and coaches will thank him for stepping in. He’s a staple not only in Glenrock wrestling, but in Wyoming wrestling. He loves the sport and he loves the kids.”

 

Flynn has been coaching in some capacity for 25 years, and Ellison has been vocal in the past about how instrumental Flynn was in getting him through the year and helping him grow last season, which was Ellison’s first as a head coach after years of refereeing the sport. 

 

Ellison specifically credited Flynn with teaching the technique to the young team that had only two seniors this past season, after losing a group of state placers and a long-time head coach. 

 

Together, Ellison and Flynn led the Herders to a 13th place finish in a field of 22 teams at the Wyoming High School Activities Association State Wrestling Tournament in February, where they placed four wrestlers.

 

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