James Griffin-Avant
Head Coach
SBVC Football
First Season (2025)

James Griffin takes over as the head coach of the San Bernardino Valley College football program to lead it into a new era.

Griffin is now the 26^th head coach in the college’s 100-year history.

Growing up in Tennessee, Griffin was a three-time all-state player and the state player of the year as a junior. After high school, he came west and enrolled at Pasadena City College, where he became the school’s all-time leader in sacks, and helped the Lancers win the Mission Conference championship, posting a 10-1 record. He was later inducted into the PCC Athletics Hall of Fame.

After Pasadena, Griffin went to Virginia Tech, helping the Hokies to back-to-back bowl appearances. The Hokies won the ACC and played in the Sugar Bowl. He graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in social psychology. He later earned a master’s of education degree in social sciences from North Central University.

Griffin played professionally for five years, before returning to California to become a coach. He found great success as an assistant coach at Fullerton College, helping the Hornets to back-to-back State and National Championships in 2016 and 2017. Along with his duties at Fullerton, Griffin became a wide receivers coach at national high school powerhouse Mater Dei in Santa Ana, helping the Monarchs to national championships in 2021 and 2023, and a CIF State Championship in 2024.

Over his career, Griffin has helped send more than 450 athletes to college, helping develop players who are not only successful on the field, but in the classroom. He preaches hard work and commitment from his players – using the philosophy of “Leave No Doubt” - and in turn helps give them the tools they need to graduate and become leaders in their communities. He has three principles for his players to follow: Faith, Family, and Class.

Griffin and his wife Maggie have two children, Boston and Cali.