Ray Lynch (American football)

Raymond Francis Lynch (January 29, 1894 – April 11, 1965) was an American football player and coach who played for the College of the Holy Cross and was head coach of the St. John's Red Storm football team from 1923 to 1931.

Playing
Lynch was born on January 29, 1894, in South Hadley Falls, Massachusetts. He graduated from South Hadley High School in 1912 and the Cushing Academy in 1914 and played football at both schools.

Lynch played guard for the Holy Cross Crusaders and was captain of the team in 1916 and 1917. Lynch enlisted in the United States Navy Reserve on June 14, 1918, and served his entire enlistment at Naval Station Newport, where he was a captain of the Newport Naval Reserves football team. He was a Walter Camp's all-service third-team selection. He was honorably discharged on December 27, 1918. He was inducted into the Holy Cross Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 1961.

Coaching
Lynch began his coaching career at St. John's Preparatory School in Queens. In 1923, he became head football coach and athletic director at St. John's College. He was also a professor of English and political science and attended the St. John's School of Law.

Lynch re-established a football program that had been dormant for sixteen years and in his first season, St. John's went undefeated and outscored their opponents 111 points to 32. His only other winning season came in 1930, when the Redmen, led by Bob Sheppard, went 7–1. Following the 1931 season, the school dropped football for financial reasons. Lynch stepped down as athletic director on December 31, 1931, but remained with St. John's as a pre-law instructor. His overall record at St. John's was 28–37–6.

In 1933 and 1934, Lynch was an official for the National Football League. From 1935 to 1939, he was head coach of the Bay Parkway Football Club/Brooklyn Eagles, a minor league football team.

Later life
During World War II, Lynch was personnel director of the USO overseas department. After the war, he was associated with law firm of Fanning & Fanning. On April 11, 1965, Lynch suffered a fatal heart attack while driving.