Fayette County High boys basketball coach Andre Flynn leads his players to success long after the game is over.
Flynn grew up in another Fayette County, the one where basketball hotbed Lexington, Kentucky is located. In a family of athletes, he stayed busy year-round.
“I like competition,” he said. “That’s what I’m built on.”
Football was his first love, and basketball was an afterthought growing up.
“I wasn’t really good,” he remembered.
He eventually found a love for the game and took off in high school. He finished as his school’s all-time leading scorer and had his jersey retired, earning all-state honors.
He stayed close to home to play collegiately at Transylvania University where he became a Division II All-American. Flynn assumed that would be the end of his playing days, but he caught the eye of pro scouts.
He had a job lined up with IBM waiting, but pro basketball offered a unique opportunity. The NBA came calling, and he got to play with multiple Hall of Famers on the Philadelphia 76ers. It also took him around the world to play internationally.
“I was able to see the world just playing the game of basketball,” he said. “A guy (who was) no good, it took me to Italy, it took me to Australia. That’s neat.”
While he continued chasing pro basketball, he came across an unexpected opportunity. His sister had moved to Stone Mountain, and she had a friend working at Fayette County High. They knew of a coaching opening, so Flynn’s sister suggested he apply. It wasn’t the Fayette County he grew up in, but it would be the one that became his home.
He knew he wanted to find a way to give back. He had already fallen in love with mentoring kids in his community.
“It just picks you up, and you realize these kids needed somebody, needed some type of guidance.”
Coaching was the perfect avenue to combine his love of sports and passion for connecting with kids.
“When you have a calling, you know.”
Since he became the Tigers head coach, he’s racked up more than 500 career victories. When other teams play Flynn’s Tigers, they know they are in for a fight against a tough team. They put in the hours and the blood, sweat, and tears to rack up wins. They’ll go toe-to-toe with any team stacked with blue chip prospects.
“We just scrap and claw and see what happens,” he said.
Flynn’s motivation is leading young men to be the best they can be. Stars on the court are fun, but he is driven to help everyone on the roster. With education, respect, and punctuality, any player can be someone to count on, and that carries on after basketball ends.
“There’s no limitations.”
Basketball is secondary to building up productive members of society. When students need guidance and advice the most, he can be a father figure they need. His father was an officer in the Army who died in Vietnam when Andre was just 7, so he knows what it’s like.
“At the end of the day, they understand coach did all he could and cared about us.”
Seeing those kids stay the course and graduate are his favorite victories.
“That’s more exciting. I promise you,” he said. “That’s what I go for, but I’m still trying to win a state championship.”
“The Honor Role,” an official podcast for Fayette County Public Schools, features employees, rotating through key stakeholders, including teachers, staff, nurses, custodians, cafeteria workers, and bus drivers. Join us as we dive in and learn about their journeys, their inspirations, and their whys.
Episodes are available on all major podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and promoted on the social media channels of Fayette County Public Schools.
Episodes will also be available here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2200811.
