ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Former Navy rugby head coach Mike Flanagan was inducted into the USA Rugby Hall of Fame.
 
Flanagan served as the head coach of the Navy men's rugby team from 1991-2017. During his 27-year career in Annapolis, he led the Mids to over 450 victories and developed 43 All-Americans. Flanagan's most prominent team was his 1994 squad who compiled a 25-1 record and competed in the national championship match. He also guided the Mids to 13 national semifinal and 23 quarterfinal playoff appearances.
 
"Massive congratulations to coach (Mike) Flanagan for his inclusion into the USA Rugby Hall of Fame," said Director of Rugby Gavin Hickie. "Mike left big shoes to fill upon his retirement from Navy rugby in 2017, but has been a great source of guidance and support. I am delighted to see my friend get the recognition he fully deserves."
 
Navy's former head coach was one of the founding members of the Varsity Cup, which served as American Rugby's National Collegiate Championship from 2013-17. Under Flanagan's guidance, Navy reached the semifinals in four of the five seasons the event was held.
 
One of his biggest impacts on Navy rugby was helping create the Prusmack Rugby Center in 2016.
 
"I stand with hundreds and hundreds of Naval Academy rugby alumni who are very proud that coach Mike Flannagan has been selected for the USA Rugby Hall of Fame. He has given so much of his time and of himself to the sport and the Academy over the years," said Navy women's rugby head coach Murph McCarthy. "I was quite fortunate and had the honor to play for Mike as well as coach under him. I have been able to witness the positive effect he has had on so many on their journey not only to be Navy rugby players, but to be great officers in the Navy and Marine Corps."
 
Flanagan's coaching accolades also include serving as the head coach for the Potomac Rugby Union Collegiate Selects (1988-95) and the Mid-American Rugby Football Union Collegiate Selects (1996-04). He also served as an All-American forwards coach from 1988 to 1999 and as the All-Marine Rugby Head Coach in 2000 and 2001. Along with coaching, Flanagan assisted on the All-American selection panel from 2002 to 2006.
 
He began his rugby career as a player at Towson University in 1978 and also appeared in matches for the Chesapeake Rugby Club and the Baltimore Area Selects. His first coaching opportunity came in 1982 with the Towson State Women's Rugby team before becoming the head coach at Loyola College for five seasons.