On the Sidelines with Dan Sousa - Griffis Couldn't Pass Up Broad Run Opportunity

On the Sidelines with Dan Sousa

Ashburn (Feb. 17, 2010) - The evolution of Matt Griffis' decision to leave his offensive coordinator position at Stone Bridge High School, where it was assumed that he would someday lead the Bulldog program after Mickey Thompson retired, went something like ...

First, a couple of years ago, around 2005, Griffis -- who has been coaching with Thompson for 14 years including four seasons at Park View and then all 10 that Stone Bridge has been opened --decided: I want to be a head coach.

And even though there were positions that might have been his for the asking, he had other considerations off the field such as a young family -- three children age five and younger, including a 1-year-old -- and so the timing was not right.

Then a year ago, Griffis, mentally took the next step and said: I think I'm ready to be a head coach.

The Bulldogs had just won a VHSL Division 5 state title in 2007 and then went undefeated in 2008 before losing to Phoebus in the state semifinals. The work Griffis had done with Patrick Thompson, turning the head coach's son from a tight end into a quarterback that shattered school passing records, put Griffis on everybody's who-should-get-the-next-head-coaching-position radar.

Yet, it wasn't that easy for Griffis as loyalty is paramount to the Herndon High School and Radford University graduate and he wasn't going to leave Stone Bridge just so he could put "head coach" on his resume.

His ideal position was one with community support and a community that he could support as he wanted to land a job where he could build a lasting impression and not just have it be a stepping stone to the next gig. He needed a "Wow" position and that is just what happened last month with Mike Burnett decided to leave Broad Run High School after back-to-back Division 4 state titles and a 28-game winning streak to open Tuscarora High School in Leesburg.

"For me, I have to live in the community where I coach and I didn't want to move my family to take a position. I was comfortable working with Coach Thompson until he retired and then the Broad Run position opened and I said "wow!".

Wow indeed ... and talk about a win-win situation for both school and coach.



Griffis lives in Ashburn already and his wife teaches at Broad Run. He takes over a program that has a great student body and booster club support and is stocked with great athletes.

The school gets a coach that is making a long-term commitment. For Griffis, he hopes this is the last head coaching position he ever interviews for.

"This is not a stepping stone. This is where I hope that I finish up my career. I am a very loyal person. There is no way I would turn around and bolt on them," said Griffis.

Reading between the lines, Griffis is signing onto Broad Run for the long haul, even if the Stone Bridge position should open up down the road (I say, if, because in my mind ... can you have Stone Bridge football without Mickey Thompson on the sideline ... that is another column!)

His loyalty extends to not poaching anybody off the Stone Bridge staff which currently leaves him with a lone holdover from the Burnett regime, Broad Run defensive line and strength coach Jason Dawson, who laid the foundation for the Spartan back-to-back title runs by building the weight program at the school.

"Hey, I'm looking for coaches!," Griffis said with a laugh. There will be no shortage of resumes in the morning.

Griffis got word of his hire almost two weeks ago but it wasn't official until approved by the school board last night which meant he had the entire snowstorm to dream and plan. This afternoon he meets the players at Broad Run.

His convictions are strong on offense and he is bringing along his Bulldog playbook which is a mixture of the classic single wing -- where direct snaps go to backs in the backfield and variety of misdirection springs runners past defenses -- and the pro set. So even though Stone Bridge is known for its single wing and runners such as Y'Lou Brown (at Wake Forest), Jeron Gouveia (Virginia Tech) and Marcus Harris, the Bulldogs have had some showtime aerial attacks over the years.

"We are going to chuck it around a great deal," said Griffis which has to make sophomore Connor Jessop, who led BR to the state title in December with senior-like poise, very happy.

In fact, Griffis said one of his favorite offenses at Stone Bridge was back in the first half of the decade when the Bulldogs had Sean Ryan at QB and the team ran some 5-wide sets.

So he knows what offense he wants to run, he knows his staff (one!) and the fact he needs more staff and he knows that he wants to not only connect with current Spartans but also alumni and former Broad Run players. One of the hallmarks of Stone Bridge's program is the alumni returning to big games and their recognition at postseason banquets.

While Broad Run opened in 1969, there hasn't been a strong outreach to former players ... and that includes some former NFL and college players. One of BR's most famous alums is so low key about his Spartan ties that most people don't know he went to the school ...and that is Stone Bridge football head coach Mickey Thompson who played at Broad Run back when Hawaii Five-0 and Starsky and Hutch were first runs.

"I want to bring back the former players and that includes Mickey Thompson," said Griffis.

And can a Broad Run vs. Stone Bridge regular season football game be far behind ... it has been more than five years since they have met but with BR moving to AAA in 2011 and the close ties between Griffis and Thompson, it seems like a no-brainer ... hard to imagine anything but standing room only when these two programs meet next.

As a joke I requested a spot in the press box today from both BR AD Jack Kirby and SB AD Dave Hembach for the 2011 game! ... but truth be told, I'm much happier on the sidelines and a big reason for that is being able to watch coaches like Matt Griffis.