Willie Griffieth enters his 8th season in 2022 at Shorter University, and his 4th year as Head Coach for Shorter University's Track & Field/Cross Country program. He is a native of Vero Beach Florida, he played football and ran track at Vero Beach Sr. High School. In 1973 he was selected 3rd team All-State Football Team and 2nd team All-State in track and field earned a athletic scholarships to Saint Paul’s College. Coach Griffieth severed 3 years in United States Army where he participated track and field. Atfer is military servers coach Griffieth worked in law enforcement for 8 years in Florida in Indian River and Okeechobee counties before beginning a career in education. In 1989 Coach Griffieth found his calling when became a social teacher ,track and football coach.
Griffieth is a 30-year coaching veteran, and joins the Hawks after serving as the head coach for track & field/cross country at Redan High School in Stone Mountain, Ga. Under Coach Griffieth's leadership and supervision he accomplished the following; 4 team state championships, 4 team state runner ups, 65 Individual State champions, 68 Individual State runner up champions, State championships medalist 3rd-8th places 114, 12 regional team championships, 8 regional team runner up Championships, 6 Dekalb County Team championships, 4 Dekalb team runners, 76 Individual regional champions, 60 Individual County champions and, most importantly, 38 full athletic scholarships to various colleges and universities.
Most recently at Shorter University Coach Griffieth has coached 1 NCAA National Champion in the 200 meters dash, 1 NCAA Runner up Champion in the 100 meter dash,5 NCAA division II Indoor Track All-Americans,22 Indoors All Regional, 19 NCAA division II Outdoors All-Americans, 67 Outdoors Track All- Conference, 23 All-Regional Outdoor,23 NCCAA All America, The men’s school recorder holder 100m (10.19), women’s recorder holder 100m (11:55), men’s recorder holder 60 meters dash (6.67) men 60m Hurdles Indoors (7.94) Outdoor 110m (13.76) women’s outdoor 100m Hurdles 13.98, the men’s and women’s 4x200m relays teams.
"My leadership style is built on the philosophy that academics come first. Athletes must first be successful in the classroom before being successful on the athletic field. The job of education is to model young men and women into productive citizens. Working together as a team can build a sense of pride, respect, ownership and leadership among the members of the team ,Schools and University's. These character traits are things that these young people can take to the next level in any workplace environment.
Team & Individual Honors
Vero Beach H.S.
1988 AAAA State Champions
Monroe Area H.S.
1990 Girls Region Champ, 3rd State Meet
Clarke Central H.S.
1991Girls Region 8AAAA Runner up
Social Circle H.S.
Boys 1995 Region 8-A Runner up
Lamar County H.S.
Girls 97, 98, 99 Region 4-AA Runner up Boys 98 Runner up
Redan H.S. 2001- 2015
State Champs Boys 2004
Boys and Girls 2005, Girls 2012
65 Individual State Champions & 68 Individual State Runners-up, State Championships Medals 3rd - 8th places 114 Team State Runner up Girls 2007, 2008, 2009,2013 Team State meet Girls 3rd 2004,2011,2014,2015 Team State meet Boys 3rd 2009,2011 Boys 6 Region Team Championship, Girls 6 Region Team Championship Boys 3 Region Team Runner up, Girls 5 Region Team Runner up Boys 6 DeKalb Team County Championship and 1 Team Runner up Girls 4 DeKalb County Team Runner up
2 Gatorade All- American
38 Track Scholarships
Cross Country Team State Qualifiers 2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2009
Coaching Honors
GHSA State track Coach of year 2004 and 2005, 2012 ATC All Metro Track Coach of the year 2004 and 2005, 2012 ATC Judo Brown Outstanding Men’s Coach Dedication Award 2010 Dekalb County Track Coach of the Year 2004, 2005, 2006. 2007, 2008, 2012 GHSA Region Track Coach of the Year 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012 AJC Boys Track Coach of the year 2004 and 2005 Region 4AA Boys Track Coach of the year1998 Region 4AA Girls Track Coach of the year 1998 and 1999
Coaching Experience
Sprint and Jump Coach Vero Beach Sr. High, Vero Beach Fl. 1986-89 Head Boys Track & Field, Monroe Area High School, 1990 Head Coach Girls Track & Field, Clarke Central H.S. 1991 Head Coach Track & Field, Social Circle City Schools 1991-95 Head Coach Asst. Boys Jefferson City Schools 1996 Head Coach Track & Field, Lamar County 1997-2000 Head Coach Track & Field/XC Coach, Redan High School 2001-2015 Head football Coach 2000, 2011-2012
Education
Vero Beach High School, Vero Beach Fl. Graduated 1973 Bachelor Liberal Studies, Barry University Miami Shores Fl.
Masters Educational Leadership, Capella University Minneapolis MN.
Specialist Educational Leadership Capella University
