Photo by G. Michael Graham. Highlands Head Basketball Coach Mike Flynn (center) goes over strategy in a game at Cooper this past season. Flynn resigned Monday after leading the Bluebirds to a 50-61 record in four seasons at the helm.
By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM
Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
The
Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team will have a new leader next winter.
Veteran
Head Coach Mike Flynn turned in his letter of resignation Monday. The Bluebirds
finished 50-61 in his four-year tenure and made the 9th Region Tournament twice
in that time in 2011 and 2012. Highlands lost to Lloyd Memorial in the first
round in 2012 and to Dixie Heights in 2011.
Highlands
finished 12-16 this past season losing 48-37 to Newport Central Catholic in the
36th District Semifinals at home. The Bluebirds entered the postseason playing
some of their best basketball despite struggling to shoot the ball the entire
season. They finished the regular-season with a three-game winning streak.
Highlands made 478-of-1,283 shots from the field for 37 percent, including
100-of-345 from three-point range for 29 percent.
“My lofty admiration for Highlands High School has
only been enhanced over the past four seasons,” Flynn said in a statement. “Though we did not win as many games as I would have liked, our players
and staff worked a winning process every day. My pursuits now will focus toward
a coaching role with less responsibility. I am looking forward to becoming an
assistant coach and helping another program in some capacity.”
Flynn had
been a head coach for 26 seasons in the Bluegrass State. He’d also coached at
nearby Covington Holmes during the late 1980s until 1996 when he left to coach
at Ashland Paul Blazer. The Bulldogs finished state runner-up in 1990 to
Louisville Fairdale, 77-73.
“I have nothing but admiration for Coach Flynn,” said Brian Robinson, Highlands High School Principal. “He is a great man and wonderful role
model. He’s at a time in his life where he’d like to look at other
opportunities.”
One of
Flynn’s former players at Holmes is Cooper Head Coach Tim Sullivan. Sullivan
led the Jaguars to another 33rd District title last year and second straight
appearance in the 9th Region semifinals.
Flynn was
the longest-tenured coach in Ashland history at nine years. He also coached a
couple seasons at Bourbon County and owns a career record of 467-252.
“It will be different,” said Parker Harris, Highlands rising junior. “We’re definitely going to miss Coach
Flynn. We all liked him. He was a positive influence in our lives.”
Robinson
said a timetable has not been set in hiring the new head coach. Potential
leading candidates for the job are current Highlands assistant Steve Hunt and
Bishop Brossart Lady Mustangs head coach Josh Feldmann. Feldmann served as
Junior Varsity Head Coach at Highlands from 2004 to 2010 before spending the
last three years at Bishop Brossart. Feldmann teaches at Johnson Elementary
School in Fort Thomas.
The new
head coach will have some talent to work with starting with Harris and rising
seniors Drew Houliston and Nick True. Drew Houliston averaged 11.3 points per
game last year and Nick True averaged 6.7 points and a team-high six rebounds.
Highlands
graduates four seniors in Luke Turner, Jake Gronotte, Karl Hinkel and Bailey
Witte. Turner averaged 11.3 points a contest.