The Riverhawks women’s lacrosse coach will also run the women’s soccer team starting this season.

Jim Griffiths coached the women’s soccer team from 2001 to 2016, and has coached women’s lacrosse since 2004.

“There may be a few bumps in the road because … I’m taking over a program I haven’t coached in six years,” Griffiths said. “The girls may be unfamiliar with me [and] I’m unfamiliar with them, so there may be a little learning curve. But I think we’ll be fine by the end of the year.” 

Griffiths said his goal is to become familiar with his players and make it to the national tournament.

Athletic Director Duane Herr said he is happy to have Griffiths return as head soccer coach. 

“We’re very fortunate and happy to have him come back and take over the program,” Herr said. “And we look forward to the continued success that he took with him when he stepped aside a few years ago.”

Herr said one of Griffiths’ strengths as a coach is his ability to develop players.

 “What I think really sets him apart is his ability to coach which seems cliche but he can take a student athlete that has the athletic ability but may not have the sport-specific experience or expertise and [he] can really develop them quickly to be a solid student athlete on the field,” Herr said.

Second-year film student Ryann Brooks said Griffiths “is about business” during practice. 

“He’s always on our side,” Brooks, a midfielder and forward, said. “He’s going to be there for us. [Griffiths] may seem like a hard coach [but] he’s just about work.”