Vikings Track & Field

Meet Head Vikings Cross Country Coach Jonathan Flinn
Head Coach Jonathan Flinn grew up in Rochester, New York. As a young boy and teen he was active in many sports, including baseball, soccer, track and field, and Tae Kwon Do. By the age of 18, he had earned the rank of 3rd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and participated in the 2000 USA Olympic Trials.
After graduating high school, he ran division one track and field and cross country for two years before enlisting in the Army in 2004. After graduating from basic training and United States Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, Coach Flinn was selected to the 75th Ranger Regiment, the elite infantry unit in the United States Army. In October of 2004, he graduated from the Ranger Indoctrination Program and was assigned to the 1st Ranger Battalion in Savannah, Georgia.
After gaining combat experience, Coach Flinn graduated in 2006 from Ranger School, the military’s premier leadership school, eventually rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant. While assigned to the 1st Ranger Battalion, Coach Flinn deployed eight times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
During his time with the 1st Ranger Battalion he won numerous awards, including the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the Army Achievement Medal.
In 2011 he was reassigned to Columbus, Georgia to serve with the 75th Ranger Special Troops Battalion where he was an instructor for assessing and selecting senior ranking soldiers to lead in the Ranger Regiment. While stationed at Fort Benning he also served as a volunteer coach of our High School Vikings Cross Country Team from 2011 to 2012.
Coach Flinn earned a bachelor’s degree in sports and health science from American Military University in the fall of 2012 and was honorably discharged from the Army.
In January 2013, Coach Flinn began his master’s program in exercise and nutrition science at Lipscomb University. While pursuing his master’s degree, he also worked in strength and conditioning with men’s and women’s cross country and track and field. Additionally, he served as a graduate assistant for the kinesiology department where he assisted in research and taught undergraduate courses.
Coach Flinn holds certification in Functional Movement Screening. He is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach and Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, Kettlebell Certified Coach, USATF Level 1 Certified Coach, Training For Warriors Coach, a Tae Kwon Do instructor and is CPR/AED certified.
He resides in Columbus with his wife, Sarah.
Head Coach Jonathan Flinn grew up in Rochester, New York. As a young boy and teen he was active in many sports, including baseball, soccer, track and field, and Tae Kwon Do. By the age of 18, he had earned the rank of 3rd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and participated in the 2000 USA Olympic Trials.
After graduating high school, he ran division one track and field and cross country for two years before enlisting in the Army in 2004. After graduating from basic training and United States Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, Coach Flinn was selected to the 75th Ranger Regiment, the elite infantry unit in the United States Army. In October of 2004, he graduated from the Ranger Indoctrination Program and was assigned to the 1st Ranger Battalion in Savannah, Georgia.
After gaining combat experience, Coach Flinn graduated in 2006 from Ranger School, the military’s premier leadership school, eventually rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant. While assigned to the 1st Ranger Battalion, Coach Flinn deployed eight times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
During his time with the 1st Ranger Battalion he won numerous awards, including the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the Army Achievement Medal.
In 2011 he was reassigned to Columbus, Georgia to serve with the 75th Ranger Special Troops Battalion where he was an instructor for assessing and selecting senior ranking soldiers to lead in the Ranger Regiment. While stationed at Fort Benning he also served as a volunteer coach of our High School Vikings Cross Country Team from 2011 to 2012.
Coach Flinn earned a bachelor’s degree in sports and health science from American Military University in the fall of 2012 and was honorably discharged from the Army.
In January 2013, Coach Flinn began his master’s program in exercise and nutrition science at Lipscomb University. While pursuing his master’s degree, he also worked in strength and conditioning with men’s and women’s cross country and track and field. Additionally, he served as a graduate assistant for the kinesiology department where he assisted in research and taught undergraduate courses.
Coach Flinn holds certification in Functional Movement Screening. He is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach and Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, Kettlebell Certified Coach, USATF Level 1 Certified Coach, Training For Warriors Coach, a Tae Kwon Do instructor and is CPR/AED certified.
He resides in Columbus with his wife, Sarah.