James Griffin (American football coach)

James Morgan Griffin Sr. (November 1, 1918 – March 13, 1992), sometimes known as "Little Train", was an American football player and coach and educator.

James Griffin
Biographical details
Born(1918-11-01)November 1, 1918
DiedMarch 13, 1992(1992-03-13) (aged 73)
Playing career
Football
1937–1939Hampton
Position(s)halfback, safety
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1941–1942Hampton
1947–1948Hampton
Track
1940–1943Hampton
1945–1970Hampton
Head coaching record
Overall21–10–5 (football)
Bowls1–1

Early years and education

Griffin was a native of Cape May, New Jersey. His father was a quarterback for the Hampton Pirates football team in the early 1900s.[1]

Griffin enrolled at Hampton Institute, played at the halfback and safety positions for the Hampton Pirates football team from 1937 to 1939, and was captain of the 1938 and 1939 teams.[1][2] He graduated from Hampton in 1940 with degrees in physical education and biology. He later received a master's degree in physical education from Springfield College in 1949 and a doctorate in education from New York University in 1961.[2]

Coaching and teaching career

In 1941, Griffin was hired as Hampton's head football coach. He held that position during the 1941 and 1942 seasons. During World War II, he served in the United States Army where he reached the rank of first lieutenant. He returned to Hampton as an assistant football coach in 1946 and resumed his role as head football coach in the fall of 1947.[3] His 1947 Hampton team compiled a 7–1–1 record in the regular season and was rated No. 4 among the nation's black colleges before losing to No. 3 Florida A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic.[4][5] He also coached the 1948 football team and compiled a 21–10–5 record in four seasons as head coach. He also served as Hampton's track coach from 1940 to 1970 with the exception of his period of military service from 1943 to 1945.[6][7]

He remained a member of Hampton's physical education faculty until his retirement in 1984.[2][8]

Later years

Griffin later served on the Hampton School Board from 1984 to 1992. He was inducted into the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1980 and the City of Hampton Hall of Fame in 1992.[2][9][6]

Griffin and his wife, Audrey, had a son, James Jr., and three daughters, Patricia, Stephanie, Blondell, and Delcenia. He died from cancer in March 1992.[2]

Head coaching record

Football
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Hampton Pirates (Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1941–1942)
1941 Hampton 6–26–25th
1942 Hampton 4–1–32–1–35th
Hampton Pirates (Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1947–1948)
1947 Hampton 7–2–15–1–13rdL Orange Blossom Classic
1948 Hampton 4–5–12–5–112thW Fish Bowl
Hampton: 21–10–515–9–1
Total:21–10–5

References
  1. "Griffin Named Grid Captain At Hampton Institute". Daily Press. December 12, 1937. p. 2C – via Newspapers.com.
  2. Ron Shawgo (March 14, 1992). "Hampton School Board Member Dies of Cancer at 73". Daily Press. pp. C1, C2.
  3. "Griffin Returns as Hampton Coach". The Pittsburgh Courier. September 13, 1942. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Hampton Yearly Results (1945-1949)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  5. "Tennessee No. 1 in Nat'l Grid Ratings". The Pittsburgh Courier. December 6, 1947. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Former HI Coach Griffin Joins CIAA 'Hall' Today". Daily Press. May 30, 1980. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Coach-Educator". Daily Press. May 24, 1959. p. 35 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Schools have his mark". Daily Press. July 9, 1984. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Dr. James Morgan Griffin". City of Hampton. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
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