Ranait (Renny) Griff has been named as an assistant coach of the St. Francis Brooklyn Women’s Basketball team, it was announced today by Women’s Basketball Head Coach John Thurston. Griff will be replacing Nettie Respondek, who accepted an assistant coaching position at the University of Denver following the Terriers championship season. Griff will serve as the third assistant coach under Thurston.

Thurston said, “Ranait Griff is a very intelligent and enthusiastic young coach whom we are thrilled to have as part of our staff. She has great experience coaching in one of the top travel team programs in New Jersey. She gained valuable experience working the past two years for top level coaches Pat Coyle and Phyllis Mangina on the staff at Saint Peter’s. We expect her to have a great impact working with our young players.”

Griff joins St. Francis Brooklyn after two seasons as an assistant at Saint Peter’s University under coach Pat Coyle. Griff is a 2013 graduate of Fordham University in the Bronx where she played with current assistant coach Kaitlyn Vican from 2009-10 where Thurston was as an assistant coach. As one of four seniors in her final season with Fordham, the Rams went to the WNIT after the team recorded the most wins in program history in the last 30 years.

At Fordham, she earned a degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing. Griff will coordinate the team’s travel arrangements and be an asset with player development. The Summit, New Jersey native will feel right at home with seven members of the 2015-16 Terriers squad residing in the Garden State.

Griff is excited to be joining John Thurston’s staff and is looking forward to being here in Brooklyn Heights.

She said, “I came to St. Francis Brooklyn for the opportunity to coach with John. He was the reason I went to Fordham. I’m excited to join his staff here at St. Francis Brooklyn. With seven new freshmen joining the team, it is exciting to get the chance to start all over again and teach. I look forward to the start of the 2015-16 season.”

The reigning Northeast Conference Champions will have many new faces for the 2015-16 season, both on the court and on the sidelines with Coach Griff.

http://www.sfcathletics.com/news/2015/6/30/WBB_0630155854.aspx

Photo Courtesy: St. Francis (NY) Athletics

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