Courtesy Bates Sports Information

LEWISTON, Maine — Bates College has named Bob Flynn as head coach of the men's and women's golf team, replacing Peter Lasagna, Director of Athletics Kevin McHugh announced Friday.

Flynn, a longtime head and assistant coach at Bates in golf, Nordic skiing and baseball, previously was Bates' head golf coach from 1990 to 2000. He shared head coach duties with Lasagna in 1999 and has remained with the team as an assistant coach since 2000. Flynn will continue as an assistant coach with the Bates Nordic skiing and baseball teams.

Lasagna, the men's lacrosse head coach at Bates, has been reassigned other administrative duties within the Department of Athletics, in addition to leading the men's lacrosse program.

"Bates is extremely fortunate to have someone with Bob's background and experience fill the head golf coach position," said McHugh. "Bob is a wonderful teacher of the game and he is well-respected and appreciated by the golf team members, so we expect the program to continue to grow and improve."

Flynn has been a fixture in Bates athletics for 43 years. He was head skiing coach at Bates from 1968 to 1990 and was instrumental in the program's move to Division I competition in 1972, and in bringing the 1976 NCAA Skiing Championships to Bates. Flynn was also head baseball coach from 1991 to 1999. He is a member of the Lewiston-Auburn Sports Hall of Fame, the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame and the Maine Ski Hall of Fame.

"I look forward to continuing the success we've been building over the past several years in Bates golf," said Flynn.

Last season, the Bates men won their third CBB championship in five years, defeating Bowdoin by seven strokes and Colby by 15 with a five-player cumulative score of 414 at Brunswick Golf Club. Their fourth-place finish (out of 12) at the Bowdoin Invitational and fourth-place finish (out of 12) at the State of Maine Championship were Bates' highest finishes in years. Kurt Schuler '10 earned All-State honors and was medalist at the Sid Farr Tournament at Waterville Country Club. With only captain Jake Cox graduating, the Bobcats will field a potent squad in 2008.

The Bates women enjoyed an undefeated season, with numerous tournament wins over rivals Bowdoin and Colby. Whitney Roller '10 was dominant all season, with three medalist honors to her name.