Football
- Title:
- Tight Ends
- Email:
- nathan.griffin@siu.edu
- Phone:
- 618-453-7982
Nate Griffin joined Nick Hill’s staff as running backs coach in 2016 and moved to the tight ends room in 2023. Playing in the toughest conference at the FCS level, the Salukis have advanced to the playoffs three times in the last five seasons.
SIU was one of only two FCS teams in the nation to beat FBS opponents in both 2022 (Northwestern) and 2023 (Northern Illinois), joining Sacramento State, which beat Colorado State (2022) and Stanford (2023).
At SIU, Griffin has mentored some of the greatest running backs in school history, including a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in the 2019 season — D.J. Davis and Javon Williams Jr. As a unit, SIU’s ground game ranked No. 12 in the nation.
Davis totaled 5,431 career all-purpose yards — finishing with the 2nd most yards in school history and 7th in MVFC history. He also finished fifth in career rushing yards at SIU (2,697) and 11th in receptions (112). Williams earned All-American status in 2019 and finished 3rd in the voting for Jerry Rice Award, which goes to the nation’s top freshman in FCS football. He led all Division I freshmen with 19 TDs (17 rushing, 2 receiving) and finished with 1,038 rushing yards (2nd nationally among freshmen).
As recruiting coordinator, Griffin made an immediate impact, earning recognition from Hero Sports for bringing in some of the top recruits in the FCS in 2016.Griffin came to Carbondale from Minnesota, where he spent four seasons in the Big Ten on the Golden Gophers staff. Griffin served as a quality control assistant on offense for Minnesota, working with opponent scouting, self scouting and day-to-day operations of the offense. He came to Minnesota from Truman State, where he coached the defensive line in 2011. In addition to working with former SIU coach Jerry Kill at Minnesota, Griffin worked with Kill as a graduate assistant at Northern Illinois in 2008 and 2009, working with running backs and fullbacks.
Griffin also has coaching stints at Northern Colorado and Idaho, where he played for the Vandals from 2000-03. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Idaho and a master’s degree in sports administration from Northern Colorado. Griffin and his wife, Amy, have one daughter and one son.
