Griffith coached Columbia to its first March Madness selection in 2023-24.
Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Lem Photography
Griffith Named to Mid-Major Coach of the Year Watch List
10/23/2024 11:53:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Lions coming off first NCAA Tournament season in program history
HOPEWELL, N.J. – Columbia women's basketball head coach Megan Griffith has been named to the watch list for the 2025 Kathy Delaney-Smith Mid-Major Coach of the Year Award presented by Her Hoop Stats. The watch list, which includes 20 mid-major coaches, was announced Wednesday.
This year's watch list includes coaches from 14 conferences. The 19 other coaches named alongside Griffith include last year's award winner, Gonzaga head coach Lisa Fortier. The complete list can be viewed at HerHoopStats.com To be eligible for the award, coaches must compete in one of the 26 conferences deemed to be "mid-major."
In January, the 10-person midseason watch list will be announced. The five finalists for the award will be announced in March, with the winner being named around the Final Four. Coaches will be assessed across the entire season, including postseason play. Beyond on-court success, other factors such as recruiting, preseason expectations, injuries, and tactical coaching will also be weighed when assessing each candidate. Inclusion on previous watch lists is not a requirement to be considered for future watch lists.
Griffith enters her ninth year as head coach at Columbia. She is the all-time winningest coach in program history with a record of 122-84 entering this season, including 76-20 (.792) over the past three seasons. Griffith's Lions are also 37-5 (.881) in Ivy League play over that time.
Among the many accomplishments and program-firsts that have come under Griffith's watch, the most memorable moment came on March 17, 2024. After putting together a quality at-large resume for the second year in a row, Griffith and the Lions heard their name called on Selection Sunday. Columbia earned its first bid to the NCAA Tournament in the program's Division I history (1986-pres.), selected as a No. 12 seed in the Portland 3 Regional. Their first March Madness game came three days later, March 20, in Blacksburg, Virginia against No. 12 seed Vanderbilt in the First Four. Columbia led for more than eight minutes in the first quarter, trailed by 10 at halftime, outscored the Commodores in both the third and fourth quarters and pulled back within a bucket on multiple occasions. Ultimately, Vanderbilt hung on, 72-68, but Columbia proved it belonged on the biggest stage in college sports alongside the nation's best programs.
Griffith has ushered in a new era and new brand of Columbia women's basketball. Her eight years back in Morningside Heights have combined to be the winningest stretch in program history. Over that time, the Lions have earned 13 power-conference wins over the likes of Miami, Syracuse, Villanova and Seton Hall, to name a few. They also include the program's first victories over opponents from the ACC and Big East.
Under Griffith's leadership, the Lions have qualified for the Ivy League Tournament in each of their last four competition seasons, playing in the championship game in both 2022 and 2024. They accepted the program's first bid to a postseason tournament by playing in the 2022 Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). A year later, they went back to the WNIT and made a run all the way to the championship game against Kansas. Griffith and the Lions played in front of over 11,000 fans at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas and nearly came out with the win.
FOLLOW THE LIONS
For the latest on Columbia women's basketball, follow @CULionsWBB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
This year's watch list includes coaches from 14 conferences. The 19 other coaches named alongside Griffith include last year's award winner, Gonzaga head coach Lisa Fortier. The complete list can be viewed at HerHoopStats.com To be eligible for the award, coaches must compete in one of the 26 conferences deemed to be "mid-major."
In January, the 10-person midseason watch list will be announced. The five finalists for the award will be announced in March, with the winner being named around the Final Four. Coaches will be assessed across the entire season, including postseason play. Beyond on-court success, other factors such as recruiting, preseason expectations, injuries, and tactical coaching will also be weighed when assessing each candidate. Inclusion on previous watch lists is not a requirement to be considered for future watch lists.
Griffith enters her ninth year as head coach at Columbia. She is the all-time winningest coach in program history with a record of 122-84 entering this season, including 76-20 (.792) over the past three seasons. Griffith's Lions are also 37-5 (.881) in Ivy League play over that time.
Among the many accomplishments and program-firsts that have come under Griffith's watch, the most memorable moment came on March 17, 2024. After putting together a quality at-large resume for the second year in a row, Griffith and the Lions heard their name called on Selection Sunday. Columbia earned its first bid to the NCAA Tournament in the program's Division I history (1986-pres.), selected as a No. 12 seed in the Portland 3 Regional. Their first March Madness game came three days later, March 20, in Blacksburg, Virginia against No. 12 seed Vanderbilt in the First Four. Columbia led for more than eight minutes in the first quarter, trailed by 10 at halftime, outscored the Commodores in both the third and fourth quarters and pulled back within a bucket on multiple occasions. Ultimately, Vanderbilt hung on, 72-68, but Columbia proved it belonged on the biggest stage in college sports alongside the nation's best programs.
Griffith has ushered in a new era and new brand of Columbia women's basketball. Her eight years back in Morningside Heights have combined to be the winningest stretch in program history. Over that time, the Lions have earned 13 power-conference wins over the likes of Miami, Syracuse, Villanova and Seton Hall, to name a few. They also include the program's first victories over opponents from the ACC and Big East.
Under Griffith's leadership, the Lions have qualified for the Ivy League Tournament in each of their last four competition seasons, playing in the championship game in both 2022 and 2024. They accepted the program's first bid to a postseason tournament by playing in the 2022 Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). A year later, they went back to the WNIT and made a run all the way to the championship game against Kansas. Griffith and the Lions played in front of over 11,000 fans at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas and nearly came out with the win.
FOLLOW THE LIONS
For the latest on Columbia women's basketball, follow @CULionsWBB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
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