Success is nothing new for Jay Flanagan. He has enjoyed success at every stop he’s made during his 42-year coaching career. During that span he has produced national champions in the shot put, triple jump, discus and 200-meter dash. He has had runnerups nationally in the decathlon, 1500-meter run, 400-meter relay, 1600-meter relay and pole vault.
Flanagan, a personable guy with a keen perspective of the national athletic scene, officially became A-State’s track boss on July 1, 1989, taking over the six-sport Indian track and cross country program.
Flanagan had come to ASU on September 1, 1988, as former head coach Guy Kochel’s right-hand man. Flanagan had spent five years as the popular chief of the Murray State program, but became interested in A-State when both MSU and the Ohio Valley Conference (of which Murray is a member) de-emphasized track.
His first task with the Indians was to immediately develop the Indian men’s and women’s cross country teams into contenders in the newly formed American South Conference. Quickly, he did just that, as the Indians won four of the six pre-ASC meets in which they participated.
They went on to capture the first men’s trophy ever awarded by the new league when they posted a nine-point win at the ASC meet. The Lady Indians also fared well, finishing as the runnerup to Pan American at the league championships.
Flanagan also proved instrumental in helping ASU win league titles in women’s indoor and outdoor track in 1988, as well as all four ASC crowns in 1989—men’s indoor and outdoor, and women’s indoor and outdoor.
During Flanagan’s five campaigns at Murray State, he coached the Racers to Ohio Valley cross country titles in 1985 and 1986. He produced runnerup OVC teams in 1982 and 1983.
A 1963 graduate of Springfield College in Massachusetts, Flanagan has both a bachelor’s (physical education) and a master’s (secondary administration) from there. He has also done graduate work at SUNY-Buffalo and Eastern Michigan University.
Flanagan built one of the top Division III track and cross country programs at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisc. In ten seasons there, he guided the Redmen harriers to four NAIA top ten finishes while his track teams finished in the top ten twice at the NCAA Division III meet.
Named NAIA District Coach of the Year in 1974, he has developed two individual NCAA champions.
After receiving his bachelor’s degree, Flanagan served as track and cross country coach at Adrian College in Michigan for seven years. His Bulldog teams posted a combined 57-10 dual meet record and two conference championships. He also served as assistant basketball coach at Adrian and was inducted into Adrian’s Hall of Fame in 1998.
During his career, Flanagan has also coached football, baseball and swimming. He enjoys golf, softball and the outdoors.
Born June 13, 1941, at Boston, Mass., Flanagan grew up in East Hartford, Conn. His wife, Liz, is an academics counselor at ASU.
He is the vice chairman of the USA Track & Field Meet Directors Association, as well as the chairman of men's development in the Southern District of the U.S. Track & Field Association (formerly TAC). He has had articles published in a national magazine on the state of track and field in athletics.
Perhaps former Head Coach Guy Kochel’s assessment of Flanagan when Jay was hired as the assistant has proved prophetic: “We could have searched the whole country and not found a better coach, a better recruiter and a more quality person. He has a basic love for people and a deep concern for helping young people improve themselves—in whatever they’re doing."
* Five women’s and six men’s indoor conference titles, six women’s outdoor titles, two men’s outdoor titles, coached six Olympians and 12 NCAA All-Americas.
* Sun Belt Conference Women’s Indoor Coach of the Year in 1992, 1995, 1998.
* American South Conference Women’s Indoor Coach of the Year in 1991, 1990.
* Sun Belt Conference Men’s Indoor Coach of the Year in 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000.
* Sun Belt Conference Women’s Outdoor Coach of the Year in 1994, 1995, 1998, 2001.
* Sun Belt Conference Men’s Outdoor Coach of the Year in 1999.
* American South Conference Women’s Outdoor Coach of the Year in 1990.
