Shawn Flanary was named Tusculum University's first director of bowling on December 14, 2018.

Flanary is responsible for all aspects of the Tusculum men's and women's bowling program, which was introduced as TU's 23^rd and 24^th sports earlier this fall.  The Pioneers will begin competition in the 2019-2020 academic year.

Flanary, a native of Sterling Heights, Michigan, comes to Tusculum after starting the bowling program at Lincoln University four years ago.  While at the Jefferson City, Missouri school, he has been the architect of building the Lincoln bowling program from its infancy.

The Blue Tigers recorded wins last season over several nationally-ranked teams including a victory over 15^th-ranked Sacred Heart in the final tournament of the regular season.  He guided Lincoln to its best postseason finish in school history, defeating Elmhurst to place fourth at the MIAA Championship.

He led the Blue Tigers to a fourth-place finish in their first-ever tournament in 2015. Lincoln also added a sixth-place performance later in the season, and sent Dani Doolan to the USBC Sectionals. In 2016-17, Flanary guided Lincoln through its inaugural season in the MIAA and led LU to several conference victories.

Flanary has demonstrated proven ability to build a program from the ground up, as he started the Jefferson City (Mo.) High-affiliated bowling team and immediately led that squad to success. Flanary began the program in 2010 and led the team to the Missouri State Championship Tournament in its first season, ultimately finishing 14th.

The next season, Flanary built on that success by guiding the program to a state runner-up finish. Despite losing nine seniors, Flanary helped his 2012-13 squad finish 10th in the State. He would eventually guide Jefferson City to the State Championship in 2014.

"It is truly an honor to be named as the Director of Bowling at Tusculum University," said Flanary.  My wife Pam and I are excited to become a part of the Tusculum Pioneer family and I am looking forward to the future of bowling at Tusculum and the challenge to build a program worthy of the Pioneer athletic tradition."

A life-long enthusiast of the sport of bowling, Flanary began competing at a serious level while stationed with the United States Army in Hawaii in the mid-80s. In 1985, he became the first player ever to shoot a sanctioned 300 at Schofield Bowl. Flanary has bowled over 30 perfect games in his career and 20 800 series with a personal best of 865 on games of 279-288-298. Shawn has many Local Association Titles, and tournament wins, His most prestigious win came in the 1990 Hoinke Classic where he won the scratch singles title and $14,000 first place prize!

In 2011, in his first year of eligibility, he was inducted to the Missouri Capital Area USBC Hall of Fame in the Superior Performance category.

He and his wife Pam have been married for 30 years and have three children, Kaitlyn, Shawn Patrick and Kordel.