Bill Flynn is the former Boston College Athletic Director whose 33-year tenure reached the highest levels of intercollegiate athletic competition. During Flynn's time as A.D., Boston College expanded its varsity sports programs and constructed most of its major athletic facilities. Flynn played a key role in establishing the university's commitment to balancing academic and athletic excellence, and earned national recognition as president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
By the end of Flynn's first decade as athletic director, Boston College had added an indoor hockey rink, a basketball court and a new baseball field.
In 1979, he became only the second athletic director to be voted president of the NCAA, where he served on the executive council and television committee. The National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame selected him as the 1984 Distinguished American Award winner, while the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) presented him with its prestigious James J. Corbett Award.
Flynn was instrumental, along with Scotty Whitelaw, in the Eastern College Athletic Conference’s move of its headquarters from New York City to Cape Cod in the early 1970’s. He also served as president of the ECAC in 1973, and in 1991 was honored with the ECAC James Lynah Award. He was named ECAC Male Administrator of the year in 1992.
Flynn was also a three-sport athlete at Boston College, earning nine varsity letters and becoming the first Golden Eagles’ hockey player to score 20 goals in a season.