June 7, 2007

EASTON, Pa. - Andrew Griffiths has been named the new head coach of Lafayette's field hockey program, as it was announced by Director of Athletics Bruce McCutcheon on Thursday. He takes over for Ann Gold, who spent 25 years at the controls of the program before retiring on April 4.

Griffiths comes to College Hill with over a decade of coaching experience, most recently serving as the associate head coach at Boston College.

"We are extremely fortunate to have a coach of Andrew's caliber join our staff as Head Field Hockey Coach," Lafayette Athletic Director Bruce McCutcheon said.

"Andrew brings with him incredible national and international experience that will surely aid in our quests to compete again at the highest level in the Patriot League."

During his time on Chestnut Hill, Griffiths was responsible for the game-to-game strategy of the Eagles, as well as editing and presenting film to the team and individual players. He also helped monitor the team's academic performance, all leading to the school's highest NFHCA Coaches Poll ranking (fourth) in mid-October 2006.

Throughout his coaching years, Griffiths has coached top-10 NCAA teams for the past eight seasons. He has tutored two Honda-Broderick Award winners, 23 Field Hockey All-Americans, and more than 20 future national-team players from several countries.

The Canadian native has spent time at all levels of the game. He currently serves as the assistant head coach on the USA Under-21 National Team since 2004, a team he guided to a silver medal at the Junior Pan-American Games. The seventh place American team at the Junior World Cup was the best-ever in the team's history.

Prior to his time at Boston College, Griffiths spent seven years at the University of Maryland, where he was assistant head coach and dealt with all facets of the program.

He has directed numerous camps, including a five-day elite USFHA B-Camp at Penn State and Colgate University in July 2003 and 2004.

A Western Ontario University graduate with a degree in English in 1994, Griffiths earned his NCCP Level 1 Coaching Certificate

Griffiths took over the program at his alma mater from 1994-1998, leading them led to a top-ten of the CIAU (Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union) for the first time in school history.

Griffiths resides with his wife Tara and their 11-month old son Aidan.