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Ken Griffin is in his first season as a member of the Charlotte 49ers coaching staff. He joined the coaching staff after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of South Carolina.
"I feel like I have hit a home run with my staff with the hiring of Ken Griffin," Charlotte head coach Karen 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."
During his two years at South Carolina, the Gamecocks won 35 games and made two WNIT appearances including advancing to the third round of the 2007 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.
From August, 2003 through 2005, he coordinated all basketball operations for Garden City Roundball Inc. While with Garden City, he was responsible for the daily activities of running a national travel team program including recruiting, player evaluations, individual skill workouts and practices.
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 and his wife Stephanie are the proud parents of two sons: Maxamus (5) and Nygel (3).
