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800 Bearettes' head coach Fred Griffin reaches career milestone
Toby Mitchell, the Lady Vandals' coach, used to be Griffin's assistant. Coach Griffin, however, remains modest about this achievement. "I would like to thank all the players and the parents whose kids have played with me over the years," Griffin said. "They made this possible." The win serves as a milestone for Griffin's 33-year career, a career in girls' basketball spanning over 1,000 games. "It's been a long road," the coach said. "I've had a lot of Tuesday and Friday nights." When he first began coaching 33 years ago in West End academy in Franklin, Louisiana, Griffin originally wanted to be a boys' coach.
Griffin said he wanted somewhere close so he and his wife, Renee, would be able to stay together while Renee finished college. "Maybe God or fate pointed me that way," Griffin also said. After spending three years at West End, Griffin moved on to Stranhan High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He pointed out here he got to be an assistant boys' coach in addition to his girls' head coaching job. From two years in Florida he moved back to Louisiana to coach for three years at Hicks High School in Hicks. Once his stay in Hicks was over, Griffin moved to Brownsboro, where something must have certainly resonated with him; he has coached at BHS for 25 years and over 800 of his overall games. "It feels like Brownsboro is home to me," Griffin said. Griffin came to Brownsboro with assistant coach Chris Frederick, now retired.
"Me and him were both strong minded," Frederick said. "We argued all the time, but it made us better coaches. He definitely helped me on my coaching methods and how to treat the kids." Becky Daughtry, former Bearettes player and now both the freshman basketball coach and head volleyball coach for Brownsboro girls, said she feels like she is part of the 800 accomplishment. Daughtry also said she spent around four years under coach Griffin. "I don't think words can really express what this means to his family and those who have been with him," Daughtry said. "It's an accomplishment I'll probably never make because I won't be coaching that long," Daughtry added. Frederick said there is one thing about Griffin's coaching that stands out, besides Griffin's love of good defense. "He's got a distinctive whistle. Any time the players hear this whistle they look right at him," Frederick said. Looking to the future, Griffin decides though 1,000 career wins is a possibility, it will be difficult to achieve. "I'd like to coach for a little bit longer," Griffin said. "I'm 55 years old; I'll do it as long as my health holds." Griffin said he got into coaching because a coach always seemed to be a strong authority figure. "I've always looked up to coaches," Griffin said. "And I always try to treat my players like my daughters." Griffin also said he always wants parents to feel their kids are safe. After all, the coach has three daughters of his own; Katy, Allie and Caroline. "It does me good to see players I coached out in the community," Griffin added. Frederick said Griffin's relationship with the players went beyond the court. "If they did something right he was right there with them giving high fives," Frederick said. As for the 800th win, Griffin said it's something he'll enjoy more later on. "Now I'm just happy with 1 and 0 in the district," Griffin said. Griffin has taken teams to state six times; twice at Hicks and four times at Brownsboro, and said he hopes to finally win one before retirement. It may have been quite a road to 800 but, for Griffin, there are still games to win and players to coach. |
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