The Delbarton community congratulates faculty member and coach Rob Flynn on the publication of his new book Coaching Academic Fundamentals: A Practical Guide to Teaching Students How to Plan, Learn, and Practice (New York: Routledge, 2026). The official publication date is April 30. 

Coaching Academic Fundamentals, with illustrations by Delbarton senior Colton Bienko '26,  is a how-to manual for developing the routines and habits students need to plan well, learn deeply, and practice with purpose. Drawing on nearly 20 years of teaching and coaching experience, Flynn outlines nine essential, teachable skills for school and home. Delbarton football players assimilate a “do the hard work” philosophy that filters throughout Flynn’s book. With clear strategies and real examples, he shows how attention, structure, and discipline can be coached and learned. Educators, parents, and students gain simple routines and a modern model for developing independence and mastering the basics.

Rob Flynn previously earned a B.A. in American Studies at Trinity College, an M.A. in Computing in Education, Trinity College and a Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant (LDTC) degree from Rutgers University. He serves in a variety of roles at Delbarton and is a true Renaissance man who combines academics, coaching and the arts throughout the school year.

As an educator, he is the school’s Learning Specialist, teaches English and serves as the Delbarton Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Coordinator. In the Delbarton theater program, each winter he works on Abbey Player musical productions as a respected Assistant Theater Technical Director. In the fall, he is a Varsity Football Assistant Coach and, each spring, he guides our youngest Green Wave athletes as the Middle School Lacrosse Coach.

Year after year, every new class of Delbarton freshmen is positively impacted by Rob Flynn’s Study Skills course where he teaches basic planning, strategies and tactics that level the playing field for each young man, regardless of his previous schooling or personal habits.

As the person who helps Delbarton students navigate learning challenges, Flynn says, "I get to work with these kids for over four years, and so many classes, so we really develop a close relationship. I learn so much from the kids, and it’s awesome to have that final meeting where we talk about transitioning them to whatever college they got into." Read more about Flynn’s journey to teaching in our Humans of Delbarton profile published in June, 2025.

Flynn is also an asset to his fellow educators. Each Monday, he distributes his Monday Morsels email to Delbarton faculty and staff, sharing updates on what he has learned about improving academic outcomes for each student. His book Coaching Academic Fundamentals is a natural extension of Flynn's desire to optimize the academic experience of every Delbarton student.

In announcing the publication of his book to Flynn’s Delbarton colleagues, Headmaster Fr. Michael Tidd, O.S.B. wrote, “This book is the fruit of Rob's years of work with our young men at all stages of their academic journeys, and of his reflection on teaching and learning, which he has shared so generously with us.”

We salute Rob Flynn on the publication of his new book Coaching Academic Fundamentals, a gift for teachers and parents everywhere and, ultimately, for the youngsters and teens whose lives they impact.