Photo by: Jon Lambert
Men’s Basketball Coach John Griffin III Signs Multi-Year Contract Extension
5/2/2025 2:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – After directing the Bucknell men's basketball team to a regular-season title and earning Patriot League Coach of the Year honors in his second year at the helm, head coach John Griffin III '08 has signed a multi-year contract extension, interim vice president for athletics and recreation Tim Pavlechko announced.
Griffin returned to his alma mater as Bucknell's 22nd head coach in March of 2023, and in his first season helped elevate the Bison to a tie for second place in the Patriot League standings, just one year after the team finished 10th. Bucknell moved up again in 2024-25, finishing 13-5 in league play to tie American for first place and earn the No. 1 seed for the Patriot League Tournament.
"In just two years, John has done a remarkable job restoring the excitement surrounding the Bison men's basketball program through his energy, passion, and love of Bucknell and the Lewisburg community," said Pavlechko. "John's positive, innovative approach to the new realities of college athletics will serve the program well, as we navigate this ever-changing landscape while staying true to our mission and the holistic development of our student-athletes."
"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue leading the Bucknell men's basketball program," said Griffin. "This program, this university, and this community mean a great deal to me. I want to thank President John Bravman and Tim Pavlechko for their belief in me and their support for the future of Bucknell Basketball. Our players and staff have built a strong foundation, and we're just getting started. We're committed to doing things the right way, developing leaders, and consistently competing at a championship level. It's a privilege to represent the Orange and Blue."
This is Griffin's third chapter with the Bucknell men's basketball program, and he has been part of championship seasons in each stint.
During his first two seasons as a guard under Hall-of-Fame coach Pat Flannery, he was a key reserve on Bison squads that defeated Kansas and Arkansas in the first round of the 2005 and 2006 NCAA Tournaments. The Kansas win was momentous, as it was the first NCAA Tournament victory in Bucknell and Patriot League history. The 2005-06 squad is considered to be the best-ever at Bucknell, as the Bison finished 27-5 overall (14-0 in the Patriot League), earned a top-25 national ranking for the first time, and received a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament. During his four-year playing career, Bucknell compiled an overall record of 85-42 (.669) and a Patriot League record of 44-12 (.786).
Griffin scored 1,084 points during an outstanding four-year playing career at Bucknell. As a senior, he captained the team and earned First Team All-Patriot League honors after averaging 13.1 points per game. Griffin ranks third on Bucknell's career list for 3-point field goals with 220, and his 127 games played were a school record at the time.
After a successful overseas career was cut short by injury, Griffin began his coaching path first as a video coordinator with the Indiana Pacers and then as a director of basketball operations and assistant coach at Rider. Griffin returned to Bucknell in April 2015, and in four seasons as an assistant coach, he helped the Bison to four Patriot League regular-season titles, two Patriot League Tournament titles, two NCAA Tournament appearances, and one NIT bid.
Griffin spent four seasons as associate head coach under Billy Lange at Saint Joseph's before once again returning to Lewisburg in 2023.
Griffin returned to his alma mater as Bucknell's 22nd head coach in March of 2023, and in his first season helped elevate the Bison to a tie for second place in the Patriot League standings, just one year after the team finished 10th. Bucknell moved up again in 2024-25, finishing 13-5 in league play to tie American for first place and earn the No. 1 seed for the Patriot League Tournament.
"In just two years, John has done a remarkable job restoring the excitement surrounding the Bison men's basketball program through his energy, passion, and love of Bucknell and the Lewisburg community," said Pavlechko. "John's positive, innovative approach to the new realities of college athletics will serve the program well, as we navigate this ever-changing landscape while staying true to our mission and the holistic development of our student-athletes."
"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue leading the Bucknell men's basketball program," said Griffin. "This program, this university, and this community mean a great deal to me. I want to thank President John Bravman and Tim Pavlechko for their belief in me and their support for the future of Bucknell Basketball. Our players and staff have built a strong foundation, and we're just getting started. We're committed to doing things the right way, developing leaders, and consistently competing at a championship level. It's a privilege to represent the Orange and Blue."
This is Griffin's third chapter with the Bucknell men's basketball program, and he has been part of championship seasons in each stint.
During his first two seasons as a guard under Hall-of-Fame coach Pat Flannery, he was a key reserve on Bison squads that defeated Kansas and Arkansas in the first round of the 2005 and 2006 NCAA Tournaments. The Kansas win was momentous, as it was the first NCAA Tournament victory in Bucknell and Patriot League history. The 2005-06 squad is considered to be the best-ever at Bucknell, as the Bison finished 27-5 overall (14-0 in the Patriot League), earned a top-25 national ranking for the first time, and received a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament. During his four-year playing career, Bucknell compiled an overall record of 85-42 (.669) and a Patriot League record of 44-12 (.786).
Griffin scored 1,084 points during an outstanding four-year playing career at Bucknell. As a senior, he captained the team and earned First Team All-Patriot League honors after averaging 13.1 points per game. Griffin ranks third on Bucknell's career list for 3-point field goals with 220, and his 127 games played were a school record at the time.
After a successful overseas career was cut short by injury, Griffin began his coaching path first as a video coordinator with the Indiana Pacers and then as a director of basketball operations and assistant coach at Rider. Griffin returned to Bucknell in April 2015, and in four seasons as an assistant coach, he helped the Bison to four Patriot League regular-season titles, two Patriot League Tournament titles, two NCAA Tournament appearances, and one NIT bid.
Griffin spent four seasons as associate head coach under Billy Lange at Saint Joseph's before once again returning to Lewisburg in 2023.
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