Andrew Griffiths Position: Head Coach Experience: Fifth Season Alma Mater: Western Ontario University '94

Contact Coach Griffiths:
- Email: fieldhockey@lafayette.edu
- Office: (610) 330-5479

Andrew Griffiths begins his fifth season as head coach on College Hill looking to build upon the success Lafayette has accomplished during his tenure. Entering 2011, the Leopards have posted a 44-34 overall record in four seasons with Griffiths at the helm. In addition, Lafayette has a 13-7 mark in Patriot League play and has qualified for the Patriot League Tournament in all four of his seasons.

The Maroon and White faced a tough schedule in 2010, highlighted by four matchups with top-15 opponents. The Leopards finished with a 9-10 mark, 4-1 PL, and reached the Patriot League Championship Game for the third time during Griffith's term. He also coached Megan Cicchi, who was named 2010 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year.

The 2009 season was one of Lafayette's most successful seasons in recent history. The Leopards shut out eight opponents on their way to compiling their winnigest record (14-6, 3-2) since they won 19 games in 2002. The team earned five All-Patriot League selections and advanced to the Patriot League Championship Game as a No. 3 seed before losing to American.

Griffiths demands just as high of a performance from his student-athletes in the classroom. In 2008, the Leopards placed a league-high 17 student-athletes on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll and 11 members were also named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad. Lafayette was recognized by the NFHCA with the Division I National Academic Team Award.

In his inaugural season on the Hill in 2007, Griffiths brought a new outlook and mindset to Leopard hockey. Inheriting the program from longtime head coach Ann Gold, Griffiths upheld the tradition of Lafayette field hockey and led the team to the conference championship game where it lost a close battle to nationally-ranked American. It was the first finals appearance since the Leopards captured the title in 2002 and fourth runner-up finish in the program's history. The Leopards finished their first season under Griffiths' direction with a 9-11 record, including a 2-3 Patriot League mark.

Griffiths has tutored two Honda-Broderick Award winners, numerous field hockey All-Americans and future national team members from several countries.

Prior to taking over at Lafayette, Griffiths was the associate head coach at Boston College where he was responsible for game strategy, skill development and recruiting. The Eagles achieved their best-ever finish in the NFHCA Coaches Poll, ranking fourth, in October 2006. Before coaching at Boston College, the native of Canada spent seven years at the University of Maryland as an assistant head coach where he dealt with all facets of the program.

After graduating in 1994 with a degree in English from Western Ontario University in London, Ontario, Griffiths joined the coaching staff of his alma mater. He helped the team to the top-10 of the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (CIAU) for the first time in school history. He went on to earn a degree in Broadcast Journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario.

Griffiths also played for the Canadian National Men's Field Hockey Team, appearing in 214 international games, including two appearances at the World Cup and three Pan-American Games from 1989-2000. He also represented Canada as a member of the 2000 Sydney Olympic squad.

Griffiths currently holds a USFHA level 3 coaching accreditation, the highest level available domestically.

Griffiths and his wife, Tara, and sons, Aidan and Owen, reside in Forks Township, Pa.