William J. Flynn

William J. Flynn (July 13, 1915 – June 27, 1997) was an American college athletics administrator. He was the athletic director at Boston College from 1957 to 1990. He began his association with Boston College in 1935 as a student athlete. He was also a mathematics professor and assistant football coach at the school.

Early life Flynn was born on July 13, 1915, in South Boston. In 1952 he was appointed Director of the Boston College Alumni Association. He remained as an assistant football coach during the 1957 Boston College Eagles football team, which put him in the unique situation of being head football coach Mike Holovak's superior and subordinate. In 1979, Boston College's student recreation complex was named after Flynn. He also oversaw an expansion of Alumni Stadium and the construction of the Conte Forum.

On August 28, 1990, Flynn announced that he would retire upon the appointment of a successor. One of his final acts as AD was to fire head football coach Jack Bicknell. On December 10, 1990, Tulane athletic director and Boston College alumnus Chet Gladchuk Jr. was hired to succeed Flynn.

Flynn died on June 27, 1997, at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Brighton, Massachusetts. He was 81 years old.