John G. Griffith - Coaching Career

Coaching Career

Griffith graduated from Iowa in 1901. In 1902, he was hired as head football coach and athletic director at the University of Idaho. When Iowa football coach Alden Knipe retired after the 1902 season, school officials considered hiring Griffith but went with John Chalmers instead. Griffith continued as Idaho's football coach until 1906.

When Chalmers was succeeded by Mark Catlin as Iowa's head coach, Griffith left Idaho to serve as Catlin's assistant coach at Iowa. Griffith was Iowa's assistant football coach in 1907 and 1908. He also served as Iowa's head basketball coach during the 1906–1907 season. After a one year break, Griffith resumed Iowa's head basketball coaching duties for the 1908–1909 season, Iowa's first basketball season in the Big Ten. He also coached the Iowa baseball team for one season in 1906.

Catlin left Iowa prior to the 1909 football season, and the Hawkeyes hired Griffith as their ninth head football coach. He was the first Iowa graduate to lead the football team. He coached Iowa to a 2–4–1 record in 1909. His star player that season was Walter "Stub" Stewart.

Griffith finished out the 1909–1910 basketball season, his third as a head basketball coach. His team went 11–3 that year, bringing Griffith's three year basketball coaching record to 29–14. After the basketball season, Griffith announced he was leaving Iowa. Stewart replaced him as the basketball coach.

Griffith left the head football coaching position at Iowa after just one year. He returned to Idaho to become the head of their entomology department. He also served as their head football coach again from 1910 to 1914. His ten year record at Idaho was 28–22–2.

Griffith also coached football at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) in 1915 and 1916, compiling an 8–9–1 record. In 1917, he led the football team at New Mexico A&M (now New Mexico State University) to a 4–2 record.