Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Josh Wang
Griffith Honored as Finalist for WBCA Coach of the Year
4/5/2025 11:57:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Fourteen finalists were announced, along with the winner, Thursday night
TAMPA, Fla. – Columbia women's basketball head coach Megan Griffith was named one of 14 finalists for the WBCA NCAA Division I Coach of the Year, as announced by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association on Thursday. UCLA's Cori Close was awarded the Pat Summitt Trophy as this year's winner.
Joining Griffith in the esteemed group of finalists were Close, Dawn Staley (South Carolina), Geno Auriemma (UConn), Vic Schaefer (Texas), Lindsay Gottlieb (Southern California), Kenny Brooks (Kentucky), Jacie Hoyt (Oklahoma State), Shea Ralph (Vanderbilt), Charmin Smith (Cal), Carly Thibault-Dudonis (Fairfield), Ryun Williams (Colorado State), Wes Moore (NC State) and Jason Burton (North Texas). The WBCA NCAA Division I Coach of the Year is selected by the WBCA NCAA Division I Awards Committee.
Griffith led the Lions to another historic season. Columbia won its first outright Ivy League Regular Season Championship, earned a second straight at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and took down Washington in the First Four, 63-60, for the program's first March Madness win. Along the way, the Lions defeated Atlantic Sun champion FGCU, MAC champion Ball State and earned a season sweep against Princeton.
The Lions concluded the season 24-7 overall with a 13-1 Ivy League record. Griffith has now led her alma mater to an unprecedented four straight 20-win seasons and three straight regular season titles.
About the WBCA
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. Founded in 1981, the WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit WBCA.org for more details about the association.
FOLLOW THE LIONS
For the latest on the Columbia women's basketball, follow @CULionsWBB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, or on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Joining Griffith in the esteemed group of finalists were Close, Dawn Staley (South Carolina), Geno Auriemma (UConn), Vic Schaefer (Texas), Lindsay Gottlieb (Southern California), Kenny Brooks (Kentucky), Jacie Hoyt (Oklahoma State), Shea Ralph (Vanderbilt), Charmin Smith (Cal), Carly Thibault-Dudonis (Fairfield), Ryun Williams (Colorado State), Wes Moore (NC State) and Jason Burton (North Texas). The WBCA NCAA Division I Coach of the Year is selected by the WBCA NCAA Division I Awards Committee.
Griffith led the Lions to another historic season. Columbia won its first outright Ivy League Regular Season Championship, earned a second straight at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and took down Washington in the First Four, 63-60, for the program's first March Madness win. Along the way, the Lions defeated Atlantic Sun champion FGCU, MAC champion Ball State and earned a season sweep against Princeton.
The Lions concluded the season 24-7 overall with a 13-1 Ivy League record. Griffith has now led her alma mater to an unprecedented four straight 20-win seasons and three straight regular season titles.
About the WBCA
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. Founded in 1981, the WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit WBCA.org for more details about the association.
FOLLOW THE LIONS
For the latest on the Columbia women's basketball, follow @CULionsWBB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, or on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
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