Bob Griffin - the winningest football coach in URI history - returned to the sidelines at Meade Stadium in 2008 as an assistant. In his role, Griffin coaches the tight ends and serves as a special consultant.
Griffin arrived in Kingston in 1976 and spent the next 16 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).
Griffin was inducted into the Rhode Island Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996 and is also a member of the Providence Gridiron Hall of Fame.
Updated Sept. 22, 2011
