Griffis Tabbed As Broad Run's Next Coach
GamedayMagazine.com has learned that Matt Griffis will be the next head football coach at Broad Run High School. Griffis comes to Broad Run after 14 years as an assistant to Mickey Thompson.
Photo By: Josh Restivo / GamedayMagazine
For 14 Years, Matt Griffis has been coaching with Mickey Thompson, and has helped lead one of the most successful programs in the state of Virginia. He inherits a Broad Run program that has won 28 straight games, and two consecutive state championships.
Photo By: Dave Bernhardt / GamedayMagazine
Griffis has worked with the quarterbacks closely over the years at Stone Bridge, and will have a good one to coach at Broad Run with junior Connor Jessop returning after leading the Spartans to a 14-0 record this past fall.
Photo By: Marc Gold / GamedayMagazine
ASHBURN, VA - It's been a little over a month since the Ashburn community was sent into shock with the departure of then head football coach Michael Burnett, but that shock should turn to a feeling of optimism with the news that former Stone Bridge offensive coordinator Matt Griffis has been named head football coach of the Spartans.
Griffis has lived in Loudoun County for the past 15 years, and has coached with Stone Bridge's Mickey Thompson for the past 14 years. He takes over a program that has reached unprecedented heights, winning the last two Group AA Division 4 State Championships.
Griffis, whose wife is a teacher currently at Broad Run, will begin work immediately on filling his coaching staff, and meeting with his new players.
"I can't wait to get started," said Griffis. "I hope to have a meeting with each player and also meet the parents in the coming week."
As for finding assistant coaches to join him, Griffis said he will begin calling people this week.
"I'm looking for coaches that have energy and enthusiasm, and that are willing to put in the time, not just during football season, but all year long. I want guys that will come in and get to know the kids, not just as players, but also as individual people."
After 28 straight wins and two straight state titles, Spartan fans have been unsettled with the thought that their new coach would come in and change everything that has been done over the past few seasons, but Griffis said they shouldn't be worried.
"Coach Burnett and his staff did a great job of getting Broad Run football to where it should be, but we don't plan on going backwards. We will keep working hard to keep the program moving in the right direction."
One development that should make all Broad Run fans happy is the news that current defensive line and strength coach Jason Dawson will be staying to work with Griffis. Dawson will be elevated to the role of defensive coordinator, and will continue to play a vital role in the Broad Run football off-season conditioning program.
"Coach Jason Dawson has agreed to stay on with me here at Broad Run," said Griffis. "And I'm excited about that, because he can kind of give me some insight as to what they've done in the past. I'm not going to make wholesale changes, and I'm not going to come in and rock the boat. We'll do some things differently, but there will be some things that they've enjoyed that we'll continue to do."
Under Griffis, the Stone Bridge offense has been among the most prolific in the state of Virginia. He has worked closely with several All Gameday skill position players over the years, including 2004 All Gameday player of the year Sean Ryan, and most recently, current tailback Marcus Harris.
The biggest question Griffis has been asked in recent days has been whether or not he is going to run the Single Wing offense. His answer was a resounding yes.
"We will run the Single Wing, and I think people will enjoy it. It's a fun offense to run, and the great thing about the offense is we can adapt it to whatever type of player we have. At Stone Bridge we've had tremendous success on many levels with all different types of players. However, we won't just sit in the Single Wing, we will also spread it out too and throw the football."
During his 14 years as Thompson's most trusted aide, Griffis said he has learned quite a bit, and he plans on leaning on those experiences in his new job.
"Coach Thompson brings a great work ethic to what he does," Griffis said. "For 14 years I've seen how hard he works, and that's what we are going to bring. From what I understand, the kids at Broad Run work very hard, and we'll continue that year round."
The only question that remains is whether or not Stone Bridge and Broad Run will finally play each other. Griffis said he had already discussed it with Thompson, and that it would probably happen in the 2011 season when Broad Run moves up to Group AAA.
"I don't think I'll need to convince him (Thompson) to play. He wants that. But you never want to see your friends lose though," Griffis said with a laugh.
COACH HAYES' ANALYSIS:
I've known Matt Griffis for 10 years now, and all I can say is that he is a first class guy. I think Jack Kirby and Dr. Markley made a great hire here, and not only will Broad Run continue to win now, but their football future will be even better long term with Matt Griffis running the show.
Griffis brings an impressive resume to the table as an assistant coach, and I think he possesses the attributes that will make him a successful head coach at Broad Run. Obviously, there will be pressure to uphold the incredible streak that the Spartans have been on in the last few years.
28 straight games and two state titles in a row is remarkable stuff for any program, and Griffis told me on Tuesday that he understands the pressures that will be there. The one thing that makes me believe Griffis will do a great job is his understanding of how to build a complete program.
Coach Burnett did a great job of giving Broad Run a foundation to build on, and Griffis will take that and run with it. Whether that parlays into more state championships remains to be seen, but considering he has helped Stone Bridge make 3 trips to the finals in the last 5 years, I think there is a strong possibility that Broad Run will be playing late in December again soon.
The biggest challenge for Griffis will be compiling a solid staff. Dawson staying is a huge get for him on many levels, but he needs to hire a few more coaches that are strong leaders as well.
One thing that Griffis mentioned to me that I really liked was his openness to embracing former Broad Run players. Griffis said that has been a staple to the Stone Bridge program, and he wants to see former Broad Run players come back and be around the program whenever they can.
Given his ties to the area, and his ties to Ashburn, Griffis was the right selection for Broad Run.
Anytime a program undergoes change, there will be some people that aren't happy. But in this case, I think the Spartan players and parents should be excited. Griffis is a family guy, and he is looking at this opportunity as long term.
He expressed his desire to coach his sons at Broad Run once they reach the high school age, and said that was a driving force for him to pursue the job when it became open. He said if that's going to happen, he has to sell his 5 year old son on becoming a Broad Run fan.
"The only person who has given me a hard time has been my 5 year old son," Griffis said. "He's given me the hardest time, so hopefully I can convince him to come to the Broad Run games, and not the Bulldog games."
On Tuesday, I also had a chance to talk with Mickey Thompson, and he was more than excited for his best friend to get a chance to lead his own program.
"I'm really excited for Matt and his family," said Thompson. "Broad Run is getting a top quality coach, but more importantly, a top quality person. I think he will do things right, and also do right by his players. We are going to miss him here at Stone Bridge, no question about it."
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO INTERVIEW:
Matt Griffis and I sat down for an exclusive one on one interview this week, and you can watch it right now online at GamedayMagazine.com. He answers all of the important questions, and more during our new video segment called "The Sunday Sitdown". Check it out.
