Ken Griffin joins the 49ers women's basketball coaching staff. |
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May 14, 2007
Charlotte, NC - Charlotte 49ers women's basketball coach Karen Aston announced the hiring of South Carolina assistant coach Ken Griffin as an assistant coach.
"I feel like I have hit a home run with my staff with the hiring of Ken Griffin," Aston said. "He is so well-known in this area in recruiting and more importantly, he is also a terrific on-court coach. He has a passion for basketball excellence that is contagious. Ken also brings the unique experience of having coached a few of our current players (Tyhiesha Smith and Whitney Hoey) several years ago in AAU ball, therefore he has a comfort level with some of our players already which is certainly a positive."
Griffin has spent the past two seasons as assistant coach at the University of South Carolina. During his two years at South Carolina, the Gamecocks won 35 games and made two WNIT appearances including advancing to the third round of last season's WNIT. In his first season at South Carolina, he helped South Carolina record a nine-game improvement in the win column from the season before his arrival.
At South Carolina, he worked primarily with the post players. His work with the post players played a major role in the two-year improvement at South Carolina. In 2005-06, his first season at South Carolina, the Gamecocks set single-season school records for blocked shots, field goal percentage defense and scoring defense. He played an integral role in helping forward Demetress Adams earn SEC All-Freshman team honors and an invite to the USA Basketball U-20 national team tryouts in the summer of 2006.
He has a been a well-known figure in recruiting circles for many years. Prior to joining the South Carolina coaching staff, he served as director of scouting for the Southeast Roundball Journal for a year. At the Southeast Roundball Journal, he was responsible for the evaluation of both regional and national talent for one of the nation's leading women's recruiting and scouting services. He also served as tournament director for national and regional showcase camps.
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Before moving to the coordinator position, he spent four years the head coach of the Garden City Roundball Inc. team. He helped more than 25 players secure athletic scholarships. He played an integral in the development of 12 High School All-Americans.
The Augusta, Georgia native graduated from Voorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina with a degree in sociology-social work in 1994.
"I am looking forward to joining the coaching staff at Charlotte and helping the 49ers continue their winning ways," Griffin said. "I am excited about helping Coach Aston build a championship program at Charlotte."
Griffin joins Krystion Obie and Angela Ortega on the 49ers coaching staff.
"With the addition of Ken, I am absolutely thrilled with this staff," Aston said. "I feel very blessed to begin this journey with these special people."