Griffin Set to Return for 3rd Year as Head Coach of Mohawks

Published on March 9, 2011 under Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL)
Amsterdam Mohawks News Release


The Amsterdam Mohawks are making a big splash with the announcement of the renewal of the contract of Head Coach Keith Griffin. This will be Griffin's third year as the Head Coach of the Mohawks. Keith has become a fan favorite in Amsterdam and has led the Mohawks to back to back championships in the New York Collegiate League. The 56 year old Pensacola, FL native has compiled a two year record of 69-27.

Griffin led the Mohawks to a 36-12 record in 2009 and the NYCBL Championship, its first since winning back to back titles in 2003-2004. The Mohawks in 2009 won 26 of their last 29 games and their last 13 in a row. They ended the season ranked 13th in America by PerfectGame Crosschecker. In 2010, the Griffin led Mohawks won another NYCBL Championship and ended the season with a 33-15 record. They ended 2010 with a #12 national ranking in the PerfectGame Crosschecker poll.

"Coming back to Amsterdam for a third season is very exciting to me. While I love coaching baseball in Amsterdam, what I really love is the people that I have met there and the passion that they have for the game of baseball and for the Mohawks", said Griffin. "The family oriented fun and large crowds, combined with the winning baseball makes Amsterdam one of the more special places in America to coach at".

Griffin was the head coach of traditional power Okaloosa Walton Junior College in Florida from 2002-2008.

His six year record at OW was 192-113(.652%) with the '03 team finishing 2nd in the State of Florida. During Coach Griffin's time as Head Coach over 100 players had signed scholarships, 36 of those signed professional contracts, and 9 played in the MLB. Griffin was an assistant coach for the Raiders from 1992-96, and prior to returning to OW was head coach at Jefferson Davis Community College (Brewton, AL) for six seasons. Coach Griffin's 1998 squad at JDCC captured the NJCAA II National Championship. Griffin amassed an over-all record of 251-94 (.728%) during his six-year stint at JDCC. He garnered five Southern Conference "Coach-of-the-Year" awards and AJCCC "Coach-of-the-Year" awards in 1998 and 2000. During Griffin's tenure at JDCC, he produced 36 All-Conference players, 10 All-Region, 2 NJCAA All-Americans, and 5 NJCAA Academic All-Americans. Under Griffin's tutelage, 58 players signed four-year scholarships and 19 received professional contracts.

Griffin began his coaching career at Pine Forest High School in Pensacola (1980-90/over-all record 217-83), with a stop at Jacksonville University (1990-92) as an assistant coach (JU competed in the NCAA Regional at the University of Florida in '91), before coming to OWCC as an assistant in 1992. During that stint as Top Recruiter at Okaloosa-Walton, 42 players signed four-year scholarships and 11 received professional contracts with 4 players currently playing in the Major Leagues.

The Mohawks open their 2011 season on Thursday June 9 against the Albany Dutchmen. They will have an opening weekend fireworks extravaganza after their second home game on Saturday June 11.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League Stories from March 9, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central