John L. Griffith

Not to be confused with John G. Griffith or Johnny Griffith (coach).

John L. Griffith

File:John L Griffith.jpg Griffith pictured in The Quax 1918, Drake yearbook
Sport(s)	Football, baseball, basketball, track
Biographical details
Born	(1877-08-20)August 20, 1877 Mount Carroll, Illinois
Died	Chicago, Illinois
Playing career
?–1902	Beloit
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1905–1907	Morningside
1908–1915	Drake
Basketball
1909–1910	Drake
1912–1914	Drake
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1902–1905	Yankton
1905–1908	Morningside
1908–1918	Drake
1922–1944	Big Ten (commissioner)
Head coaching record
Overall	49–31–7 (football)
Statistics College Football Data Warehouse

John L. Griffith (August 20, 1877 – December 7, 1944) was an American football, basketball, and baseball player, track athlete, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the first commissioner of the Big Ten Conference from 1922 until his death in 1944. His career football coaching record was 49 wins, 31 losses, and 7 ties.

Coaching career

Morningside

Griffith was the head college football coach for the Morningside Mustangs located in Sioux City, Iowa. He held that position for 3 seasons, from 1905 until 1907. His coaching record at Morningside was 13 wins, 6 losses and 4 ties. As of the conclusion of the 2009 season, this ranks him #8 at Morningside in total wins and #3 at the school in winning percentage (.652).

Drake

Griffith was the tenth head coach for the Drake University Bulldogs located in Des Moines, Iowa and he held that position for eight seasons, from 1908 until 1915. His overall coaching record at Drake was 36 wins, 25 losses, and 3 ties. This ranks him seventh at Drake in terms of total wins and seventh at Drake in terms of winning percentage. During his time at Drake, he created the Drake Relays in 1910.

External links

• John L. Griffith at the College Football Data Warehouse