Kim Griffin to Pursue Other Career Opportunities

Kim Griffin announced today (May 9) that she will step down from her position as the head softball coach at Canisius University to pursue a career in mental health counseling.

"It has been an incredible honor to lead the Canisius softball program over the past 11 years," Griffin said. "During my time here, I have been proud to help guide our team to multiple MAAC Championships and to watch our student-athletes grow both on and off the field. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside such dedicated student-athletes, coaches and staff, and for the unwavering support from the Canisius community.

"I am especially grateful to Bill Maher and coach Mike Rappl for giving me my start in coaching and believing in me early in my career. I have had so many great assistant coaches that I have worked with over the years and their unwavering support to me as a coach and as a person has always been greatly appreciated. I also have to thank my wife, Jesse. Without her support, there is no way I could have done this job. While it is time for me to step away from coaching to pursue a career in mental health counseling, I will always carry a deep pride in what we have built together and look forward to supporting the program in new ways as it continues to thrive."

Griffin recently completed her 18th season with the Canisius softball program, which includes 11 seasons as the program's head coach and seven seasons as an assistant. She was officially named the second head coach in program history on Sept. 29, 2014, when she took over the Golden Griffin program from Rappl. A two-time MAAC Coach of the Year (2015 and 2023), she compiled 237 career victories, with 137 of those wins coming in MAAC regular season play.

Her teams qualified for seven MAAC Softball Championship tournaments, won two MAAC regular season championships (2022 and 2023) and she guided the program to the 2022 conference tournament title and the NCAA Division I Softball Championship. Griffin's teams played in four-straight MAAC Championship games (2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024) and she leaves her role having coached/recruited 36 All-MAAC honorees, including four MAAC Rookies of the Year, two MAAC Pitchers of the Year and three MAAC Players of the Year. The program has also had 14 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region Team honorees under her direction. In the classroom, 74 of Griffin's student-athletes have been named to the MAAC All-Academic Team and the softball team regularly boasts one of the highest team grade point averages among Canisius' varsity sports programs.

"Kim had the difficult task of following Mike Rappl as our head coach, and she did a wonderful job," Canisius Vice President and Director of Athletics Bill Maher said. "She continued the legacy of success for Canisius softball and developed young women of great character to be outstanding representatives and graduates of Canisius. I will miss having Kim as a member of our staff, but wish her all the best as she transitions to this next career and continues her passion for helping others."

A national search for Canisius' next head coach will begin immediately.

Print Friendly Version