John Griffin III

John Griffin III
Bucknell Bison
PositionHead coach
LeaguePatriot League
Personal information
Born (1985-12-03) December 3, 1985 (age 39)[1]
Career information
High schoolSt. Joseph's Prep
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
CollegeBucknell (2004–2008)
Playing career2008–2012
Coaching career2010–present
Career history
As player:
2008–2009Crailsheim Merlins
2010BK Inter Bratislava
2011Leicester Riders
As coach:
2010–2011Indiana Pacers (Video Game Coordinator)
2012Rider (Director of Operations)
2013–2015Rider (assistant)
2015–2019Bucknell (assistant)
2019–2023Saint Joseph's (associate head coach)
2023–presentBucknell
Career highlights and awards
As player:
  • ProB champion (2009)
  • ProB Most Valuable Player (2009)
  • First-team All-Patriot League (2008)
  • Patriot League All-Rookie Team (2005)

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

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Bucknell Bison (Patriot League) (2023–present)
2023–24 Bucknell 14–19 10–8 T–2nd
2024–25 Bucknell 4–10 0–1
Bucknell: 18–29 (.383) 10–9 (.526)
Total: 18–29 (.383)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. ^ a b "John Griffin Player Profile, Bucknell - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  2. ^ https://bucknellbison.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/john-griffin-iii/1232
  3. ^ a b c d e "John Griffin III". Rider Broncs. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Alumni Corner". Bucknell Bison. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Leicester Riders thrilled with John Griffin deal". BBC Sport. 3 August 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  6. ^ https://gobroncs.com/staff-directory/john-griffin/148
  7. ^ "John Griffin III". Saint Joseph's Hawks. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  8. ^ "John Griffin III '08 Named Men's Basketball Head Coach at Bucknell" (Press release). Bucknell Bison. April 1, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  9. ^ "John Griffin III '08 Named Men's Basketball Head Coach at Bucknell". Patriot League. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  10. ^ Callahan, Kevin. "John Griffin III takes over as head coach at alma mater Bucknell". City of Basketball Love. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  11. ^ "John Griffin III named new Bucknell men's basketball coach". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Retrieved 1 April 2023.