FORT MYERS, Fla. – Matt Griffin, who spent the past season at Albany, has been named assistant coach for the FGCU men's basketball program as announced today by head coach Pat Chambers. The addition of Griffin now completes the Eagles' staff.
 
"I've had a long relationship with Matt and his family since he was a little kid. He's a terrific coach and an even better person," said Chambers. "Having seen him grow in the profession after coaching him at Boston University has been such a thrill and I'm excited about having him on our staff."
 
Prior to this past season with the Albany men's basketball program, Griffin was the head coach at Roman Catholic High School from 2016-2021. In five years, his overall record was 96-29. He led Roman to four consecutive Philadelphia Catholic Championship appearances, winning back-to-back championships in 2018 and 2019. In 2018, Griffin was named USA TODAY Coach of the Year in the state of Pennsylvania. Additionally, he was named 2018 Philadelphia Inquirer, 2018 Daily News, 2018 Philadelphia Scholastic, and 2018 6A PIAA Coach of the Year. In his five-year tenure, Griffin won one PIAA 6A State Championship (one run was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and one did not take place for the same reason). He coached over 13 collegiate basketball players, including seven Division I players. In addition to his coaching duties, Griffin served as the Athletic Director for his last two years there, overseeing 17 athletic programs. Within the Philadelphia Catholic League, Griffin was the President of the Coaches Association for five seasons (2016-2021). Additionally, from 2019-2021, Griffin was a court coach for the Under-16, Under-17, and Under-18 USA Basketball Junior National Teams.
 
Griffin played college basketball at Rider University from 2007-2009 where he was named team captain as a sophomore. He transferred and finished his career at Boston University from 2009-2012. In 2011, Griffin led the America East conference in 3-point shooting percentage and helped lead the team to NCAA tournament under Chambers. He was a captain during his junior and senior seasons.
 
Following graduation at Boston University, Griffin was accepted into the Teach for America program. He served the New Bedford Public School District from 2012-2014 in New Bedford, MA as 7^th grade Math Teacher. During those years, he earned his masters' degree from the Boston University School of Education.
 
Griffin has a wife, Alexis, and a dog, Boston.
 
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COACH CHAMBERS
Pat Chambers was officially introduced as the fifth FGCU men's basketball head coach in March 2022 bringing a wealth of experience in college basketball highlighted by head coaching stints at Penn State and Boston University. Chambers spent nine years leading the Penn State (2011-20) program and two years as head coach at Boston University (2009-11). He has 190 career victories in that span including four 20-plus win seasons. Part of his career as a head coach was highlighted by leading the Nittany Lions to a No. 9 national ranking in 2019-20 which tied the program's best-ever ranking set in 1996. Prior to becoming a head coach, he spent five seasons as part of the Villanova staff helping the Wildcats to a Final Four (2009), two Elite Eight, and three Sweet Sixteen appearances during his tenure.
 
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.
 
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 92 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 14+ seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just 10 plus seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 45 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. In 2022, the men's golf team became the first program to earn at at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament. Eight FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport - including women's basketball (No. 20, 2021-22), beach volleyball (No. 20, 2022) and both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as four of the most recent. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.50 GPA in the classroom in the fall 2020 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 25 consecutive semesters. The past five semesters (Fall 2019 – Fall 2021) each saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher team GPA in each. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 - being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
  
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