Dan Flannery, the longtime Ames High School swimming coach, died on Tuesday, the school district announced.
“Dan was Ames High Pride. He loved our students, our high school, and our community. This is a huge loss for not only our school community, but the swimming community in Ames and across Iowa,” said Superintendent Jenny Risner. “Dan was committed to excellence in his program and his success speaks for itself. But what was even more impressive was his ability to build strong relationships with his student-athletes that lasted well beyond high school. He made those he coached better athletes and better people.”
Flannery is the most successful swimming coach in the state of Iowa. Flannery has been the head girls swimming and diving coach at Ames High since 2002 and has been leading the boys’ program since 1998. Since being named the head girls coach, Ames’ varsity dual meet record is 140-11-1. In the past 10 years, the Little Cyclones have won eight team state championships, which ranks second on Iowa’s all-time list. Over the last 11 years, 121 of his swimmers have earned NISCA all-American honors, 19 swimmers have won an individual state title, and 18 state records have been broken by an Ames swimmer. Ames became only the third school in Iowa history to win the girls swimming and boys swimming team titles in the same academic year (2018) when Flannery guided Ames High to their first boys championship since 1982.
In 2018, Dan Flannery was named the recipient of the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union’s Golden Plaque of Distinction Award. Flannery was honored before the start of the Iowa Girls State Swimming Finals.
Ames was the Division 6 NISCA National Dual Meet Champion last year.
“Dan has an incredible passion for Ames High and built our swim program into something magical. I am incredibly saddened for his wife, children, and family, and our Ames High community” said Ames High Athletic Director Judge Johnston. “His passing creates an incredible void across the swim community that will be felt for a long time. He was an incredible coach, but more importantly, an amazing person.”
Both of my GRANDSONS swam under the leadership of DAN FLANNERY!! One all 4 years of High School and the other a Freshman last school year for one year!! He will be missed immensely!! They will be big shoes to fill!! Sympathy to his family!