July 10, 2002
Paul Griffin, formerly the Director of Athletics at Arkansas State University and the University of South Florida, has been named Senior Associate Director of Athletics at Georgia Tech, Director of Athletics Dave Braine announced.
Griffin replaces Steve Orsini, who was recently named Director of Athletics at the University of Central Florida. He will be responsible for the Athletic Association budget and will oversee several departments, including the ticket office, marketing and promotions, sports information and several Olympic sports.
Previously a member of the Tech staff as Special Consultant to the Director of Athletics from July through December of 2001, Griffin assisted with Tech’s efforts in hosting the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four until he was named Director of Athletics at Arkansas State in January of 2002.
Griffin, 55, spent 15 years as the Director of Athletics at South Florida (1986-2001), where he was instrumental in the university’s charter membership in Conference USA. He was also responsible for developing the plan which initiated South Florida’s football program in NCAA Division I-AA and then readied the program for its move to Division I-A in 2001.
Honored as the 1999 Southeast Region Athletics Director of the Year for Division I-AA/ I-AAA by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, Griffin represented Conference USA on the NCAA Championships Cabinet. He was subsequently appointed to the subcommittee for football certification, which certifies bowl games and preseason events.
Before his time at South Florida, Griffin spent five years (1981-86) as director of athletics at Jacksonville (Fla.) University. Prior to that, he spent nine years (1972-81) at Roanoke (Va.) College, including the last four years (1977-81) as Director of Athletics. He also served as the lacrosse coach during his nine-year tenure at Roanoke.
Griffin earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Maryland in 1969 and added a master’s degree in education from Long Island University (C.W. Post Center) in 1973.
A native of Baldwin, N.Y., Griffin and his wife, Maureen, have one son, Michael.
