The man behind the CMU football team will leave the Chippewa family effective Nov. 22, bringing to an end the uncertain future which had saddled the team for some time.
CMU Head Coach Dick Flynn, currently in his 22nd year at Central and in his sixth year as head coach of the Chippewas, announced his resignation Tuesday.
"It's been a very difficult decision but in the best interest in the program, I feel at this time I should give up my position as head coach at the end of the season," Flynn stated in a press release. "It helps take away a cloud of uncertainty as we prepare for the final two games."
"You just get to a point where you realize what has to be done," Flynn said after practice Tuesday. "I really love these kids and this program and I want what's best for them."
The idea of resigning is something Flynn admitted had been a possibility for some time throughout the team's current 2-7 season.
"It's definitely something that has crossed my mind," he said.
CMU Athletics Director Herb Deromedi praised Flynn for his efforts during his time at Central and said they've talked about his resignation before.
"We've had ongoing discussions with Dick and obviously wanted to give him this opportunity," Deromedi said.
"Dick (Flynn) has conducted himself in a professional manner at all times," Deromedi said. "He has been an outstanding representative of CMU."
A native of Mount Pleasant, Flynn was promoted from the defensive coordinator position he had held since 1978 to replace Deromedi as head coach April 25, 1994, when Deromedi moved up to his current role as athletics director.
In his rookie season, Flynn led CMU to a Mid-American Conference championship with a 9-3 overall record and was named MAC "Coach of the Year."
CMU has had four losing seasons in the five years since and Flynn's all-time record now sits at 28-37 with this upcoming weekend's game at home against Eastern Michigan University and a road contest with Ball State to finish the season.
"It's a shock. I wasn't really thinking about it," said Eric Page, St. Clair Shores senior and offensive tackle. "We need to finish strong."
Page said this is just the latest monkey-wrench in what has been a season full of goals set and reset.
"We just have had to readjust all season," Page said. "We moved our goals from MAC champs, to a winning season, to now just finishing 4-7."
The shock of Flynn's resignation was something echoed by other members of the team.
"It's a big shock. I had heard rumors, but didn't believe them," said Ira Gooch, Davenport sophomore and tailback. "It's like losing a real close family member. We weren't ready for this at all."
Mount Pleasant junior and tailback Eric Flowers, said Flynn was perhaps not the primary source of the team's failures in '99.
"We have to make the plays," Flowers said. "The coaches have coached us and as players we have to go out on the field and make plays."
The timing of Flynn's decision was not without some thought.
Since schools may not contact prospective recruits between Dec. 24-31 and Jan. 9-13, having a coach in place before the holiday break was important to all involved.
"The team needs closure," Flynn said. "The kids will be here during break and they need to know what's going on."
"It's very important to have a timely replacement for a position," Deromedi said. "We will make every effort to have a new coach in place by Dec. 10."
As for any discussions on who that new coach would be, Deromedi had no ideas as to leading candidates, but said several potential candidates do come to mind.
"I think obviously those with midwest ties have a good regional understanding of the midwest," Deromedi said.
At this time Deromedi added that he would not take any internal candidate for the head coaching position, although assistant coaches and others tied to the team could talk to the head coach about retaining their current jobs.
Deromedi also said CMU will conduct a search and will certainly advertise for the position.
Deromedi said neither Flynn nor any of his 12 assistants are on tenure as staff members at CMU.
University President Leonard Plachta, who has been out of town for the past couple of days, refused comment on the issue, saying he wasn't sure what had been said publicly.

Dick Flynn's coaching record at CMU:

YEAR	OVERALL	MAC	PLACE
1994	9-3	8-1	1st
1995	4-7	2-6	t-7th
1996	5-6	4-4	5th
1997	2-9	1-7	5th (west)
1998	6-5	5-3	t-2nd (west)
1999	2-7	1-5	5th (west)
Totals	28-37	21-26
1999 totals are not full season		t = tie

Chronology of CMU Head Football Coach Dick Flynn:

1961 - Flynn graduates from Mount Pleasant High after an all-state career as a fullback and linebacker.
1964 - After seeing time as a reserve end his first three years, Flynn starts at offensive tackle his senior year at Michigan State. He plays the most minutes of anyone on the team and is awarded the outstanding scholar-athlete award.
1965 - Flynn begins his coaching career as an assistant baseball and football coach at Lansing Eastern High School.
1970 - Flynn finishes a four-year stint in the Air Force at the rank of captain. He returns to Lansing Eastern as an assistant football and basketball coach. The next year he becomes head coach in both sports.
1972 - Began serving as head coach for only football. His seven teams were 37-23 and he was named Lansing Area Coach of the Year in 1973. 1978 - First hire of new CMU Head Coach Herb Deromedi as defensive coordinator.
1990 - Flynn's defense lead Division I-A football, allowing 8.9 points per game.
1991 - Title of assistant head coach is added to Flynn's defensive coordinator title.
April 25, 1994 - CMU announces Flynn as head coach of football team.
1994 - Flynn's team is 9-3 and MAC champs in his first season. They earn a berth in the Las Vegas Bowl and he is named MAC Coach of the Year.
1996 - Flynn and Stan Shingles kick off the "CMU Coaches Show" live on WUPS 98.5 FM from the new Soaring Eagle Casino Bingo Hall. Flynn caps his third season.
1997 - Flynn has his third consecutive losing season with a 2-9 record overall; 1-7 in the MAC.
1998 - Under the direction of Flynn, the team goes 6-5 overall and 5-3 in the MAC.
Nov. 9, 1999 - Flynn announces his resignation as CMU Football Head Coach, effective at the end of the season.

Flynn says farewell to failing Chippewas

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