During the past two decades Flynn has presided over unprecedented growth of the game in the U.S. as the U.S. Women's National Team won consecutive FIFA World Cups, adding Youth National Team programs from Under-14 through U-20, establishing the Boys and Girls Development Academy and expanding U.S. Soccer’s reserves to $150 million with multi-million-dollar partnerships.
"Every big step that's happened in the last 30 years of the game, Dan has been part of it in every way and in a leadership way," Gulati said. "It's not just the success of the organization financially, or in terms of management, it's all parts of the game; the soccer part of it, the development part of it, the National Teams’ success, men and women, all of those things. He has been an absolutely vital leader and a critical leader in all those aspects."
Hank Steinbrecher, who preceded Flynn in the position, echoed Gulati's sentiments.
"I think it's critical," he said. "That position is a very, very unique one and for him to do for 20 years is incredible, because every day you've got to grapple with three dynamics and keep them in balance."
Those were financial, political and sporting.
"You have to make decisions based on what's best for the financial health of the organization," Steinbrecher said. "You have to make decisions that are politically expedient because it is a not-for-profit organization and the president and board of directors have a great deal of sway in our country in soccer. The third, you've got to make decisions on the sport, on the technical aspects of the sport, on understanding it, on feeling it, on having a simpatico to the game. It's very rare to be able to balance those three dynamics. And I don't know anybody who has done it better than Dan."
Steinbrecher had no qualms when Flynn succeeded him 19 years ago. In fact, he had nothing but praise for his successor.
"Listen, it's very rare that you have one CEO and one executive director lead an organization and another guy come in and have the kind of relationship that Dan and I have been in because normally what happens is that the old guy is out there saying that new guy is ruining the business. 'I've worked so hard all my life and this guy is ruining the business’," he said. "And the new guy says, 'God, he made such a mess of this. You have no idea of how much work I had to do to get it straight.' That's never ever been the case with Dan and me. I have tremendous respect for what he's done. I know because I know the complexities of that position. He's kept it together for 20 years, the incredible growth the sport that the sport has gone through. That in itself is an incredible accomplishment."
To appreciate Flynn's accomplishments, you need to know his background.
He played soccer at several levels, first with the St. Philip Neri youth club in St. Louis, then at McBride High School and St. Louis University High School and finally in college at St. Louis University. As a defender, Flynn helped the Billikens win the 1973 NCAA title and reach the 1974 final.
