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Football
Griffin Rejoins URI Football Family
March 10, 2008
KINGSTON, R.I. - University of Rhode Island head football coach Darren Rizzi announced today that longtime URI football coach Bob Griffin will rejoin the Rams' coaching staff in 2008. Griffin, a 1996 inductee into the Rhode Island Athletics Hall of Fame and a member of the Providence Gridiron Hall of Fame, will serve as an offensive assistant and special consultant to Rizzi. Griffin will work primarily with the tight ends. "To have the opportunity to bring Bob Griffin back to our staff is special for both me and for URI," said Rizzi, who played under Griffin from 1989-92. "His wealth of experience, knowledge and passion for football will be invaluable to the student-athletes and coaches. Along with being a great football coach, Griff's character and class are unmatched. This is a great day for Rhody football." Griffin arrived in Kingston in 1976 and spent the next 17 seasons patrolling the sidelines for the URI football team, where he became the school's all-time coaching wins leader with 79 victories. He guided the Rams to back-to-back Yankee Conference Championships in 1984 and 1985 and a share of the title in 1981. All three of those squads qualified for the NCAA Playoffs. For his efforts, he was named the New England, Yankee Conference and Words Unlimited Coach of the Year in 1984 and 1985 as the Rams posted a 10-3 record in both seasons. Under Griffin, the 1984 team set or tied 103 records at the school, conference, New England, Eastern and National levels. In 1985, the Rams finished No. 7 in the NCAA poll after going undefeated in the Yankee Conference (5-0) for the first time in their 39 years as a member. Six members of that squad went on to sign contracts with National Football League (NFL) teams. Griffin began his coaching career at URI under Jack Lilly in 1966 before departing to coach Bishop Hendricken High School in 1970. One year later, Griffin took over as offensive coordinator at Idaho State before being elevated to head coach in 1972. He spent four season as head coach of the Bengals, guiding them to a 21-20 overall record, and twice (1972, 1975) led them to a school-record seven wins (against three losses).
The Rams will host their annual spring game on Saturday, April 26 and open the 2008 season on Saturday, August 30 when they host Monmouth. |
There are no events scheduled for the next 60 days.
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