John Griffin III (born December 3, 1985)[1] is an American college basketball coach, currently the head men's coach for the Bucknell Bison.[2]
Playing career
Griffin attended St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia and led the basketball team to a Philadelphia Catholic League title as a senior in 2004.[3]
In his first season as a professional in 2008–2009, Griffin played with the Crailsheim Merlins in the German second-tier ProB. He led the team to a league title and was named the league's most valuable player.[3] After suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, Griffin joined BK Inter Bratislava in Slovakia in early 2010.[4][5] He signed with the Leicester Riders of the British Basketball League in late 2011.[5] Griffin played one final season in Italy in 2011–2012.
Coaching career
Griffin's first coaching position was with the Indiana Pacers as a Video Game Coordinator. He'd move to the college ranks to join the coaching staff at Rider first as the director of operations then as an assistant coach.[6] From 2015 to 2019, he'd coach at his alma mater, Bucknell University, as an assistant, before joining Saint Joseph's as their associate head coach under Billy Lange.[7]
On March 21, 2023, he was hired as the head coach at Bucknell replacing Nathan Davis.[8][9][10][11]
Personal life
Griffin's father, John Griffin, also coached college basketball, serving as head coach at Siena and Saint Joseph's.[3] His brother, Matt, played at Rider and Boston University.[3]
Griffin married Brianna Gauthier, who played college basketball at Mount St. Mary's.[3]
Head coaching record
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bucknell Bison (Patriot League) (2023–present) | |||||||||
| 2023–24 | Bucknell | 14–19 | 10–8 | T–2nd | |||||
| 2024–25 | Bucknell | 11–13 | 7–4 | ||||||
| Bucknell: | 25–32 (.439) | 17–12 (.586) | |||||||
| Total: | 25–32 (.439) | ||||||||
|
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
| |||||||||
References
- ^ a b "John Griffin Player Profile, Bucknell - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
- ^ https://bucknellbison.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/john-griffin-iii/1232
- ^ a b c d e "John Griffin III". Rider Broncs. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ "Alumni Corner". Bucknell Bison. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Leicester Riders thrilled with John Griffin deal". BBC Sport. 3 August 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ https://gobroncs.com/staff-directory/john-griffin/148
- ^ "John Griffin III". Saint Joseph's Hawks. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ "John Griffin III '08 Named Men's Basketball Head Coach at Bucknell" (Press release). Bucknell Bison. April 1, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
- ^ "John Griffin III '08 Named Men's Basketball Head Coach at Bucknell". Patriot League. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ Callahan, Kevin. "John Griffin III takes over as head coach at alma mater Bucknell". City of Basketball Love. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ "John Griffin III named new Bucknell men's basketball coach". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Retrieved 1 April 2023.