KENNESAW, Ga. | Jul 14, 2017

Griffin is a former assistant athletics director for Kennesaw State

Kennesaw State University President Sam Olens announced Friday that Matt Griffin will serve as the interim director of athletics.

Griffin is no stranger to Kennesaw State, having spent two years as the Owls’ assistant athletics director for internal operations and the two years prior as director of athletics at Southern Polytechnic State University before the two institutions consolidated. Since 2015, Griffin has served as KSU’s director of trustee relations and development.

“We are fortunate to have someone with Matt's experience who can step into the interim role and provide solid leadership while we search for Kennesaw State's new director of athletics,” said Olens.

Griffin graduated from Southern Polytechnic State, where he played baseball, and boasts more than a decade of college athletics experience. He fills the vacancy created by Vaughn Williams, who earlier this week accepted a position at Boston College. A national search is underway for Williams’ replacement.

“I am grateful to serve as the interim director of athletics at Kennesaw State University,” said Griffin. “I want to thank President Olens for this opportunity, and I look forward to working with our coaches, staff and student-athletes.”

In his previous role with the Department of Athletics, Griffin was primarily responsible for overseeing business operations, serving as sport administrator for soccer, softball and men's and women's tennis, and advising KSU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

While he was athletics director at Southern Poly, the Hornets achieved great success at the national level. The men's soccer program reached the Elite 8 in 2012, while the women's basketball program made back-to-back national tournament appearances. The baseball team made the University's third appearance in the 2014 NAIA World Series.

Prior to his appointment as athletics director at SPSU, Griffin spent seven years as an assistant athletics director concurrent with a nine-year (2004-2012) tenure as the Hornets head baseball coach. Griffin also served as the assistant coach of the SPSU program (2000-2003).

Griffin was drafted in the 32nd round by the Chicago Cubs in 1998 and played two seasons in their organization. He then returned to SPSU to finish his bachelor's degree in business administration.

Originally from St. Mary's, Pa., Griffin grew up in Toccoa, Ga. He and his wife, Leslie, a civil engineer at Geosyntec Consultants, have a daughter, Grace, and son, Luke, and reside in Kennesaw.

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.