Women's Cross Country
Graves, Griff
Griff Graves
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- glgraves@syr.edu
A key component to the turnaround of the Syracuse cross country program as an athlete, former 'Cuse standout Griff Graves '12 G'13 returned to Syracuse to coach his alma mater as an assistant coach in the cross country/track and field programs and is now entering his sixth season in the role in 2023-24.
Graves assists Bell with the recruiting and development of the Orange's distance runners. Under their tutelage in 2022-23, the Orange scored at all-six NCAA Championship events – one of 11 schools nationally to do so, had an individual All-America finish at five of the six, finished in the top-20 of both USTFCCCA Program of the Year standings, and had both teams earn USTFCCCA All-Academic Team distinction.
Graves helped lead the Orange men to the ACC Championship in 2019, assisting Brien Bell in earning ACC Coach of the Year honors for the team's success. He also helped mentor the Orange to an NCAA Northeast Region Championships in 2018, 2021 and 2022.
A number of individuals have shined under Graves' guidance as well. Shannon Malone won the NCAA Northeast Regional in 2018, Iliass Aouani swept the 5k and 10k at the 2019 ACC Championships and Amanda Vestri has claimed an ACC indoor 5k title (2021) and was a two-time First Team All-American on the track, among others.
Graves joined Bell's staff after serving as operation assistant for the Florida State cross country and track and field programs. In his one-year stint at Florida State, the Seminoles swept the ACC men's and women's indoor track and field team championships, while the men's program doubled up and claimed the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championship as well.
Graves helped lead the 'Noles men's cross country team to a fifth-place finish at the ACC Championship as well.
Before joining the FSU staff, Graves served as a volunteer assistant coach at Appalachian State in 2016-17, mentoring the Mountaineers' women's team to a Sun Belt cross country title.
Prior to coaching, Graves ran professionally for ZAP Fitness/Reebok for two years after his graduation from Syracuse. The Abingdon, Virginia native qualified for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. He also finished in the Top-15 in the 12k, 15k, and 20k at the USATF Road Championships.
As a student-athlete at Syracuse, Graves helped start the Orange's run of conference titles, winning three conference championships with the Orange and helping 'Cuse finish in the top-10 at the NCAA Championship for the first time since 1957 as a redshirt senior in 2013.
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His wife Cassie Graves '12, also ran at Syracuse.
Graves assists Bell with the recruiting and development of the Orange's distance runners. Under their tutelage in 2022-23, the Orange scored at all-six NCAA Championship events – one of 11 schools nationally to do so, had an individual All-America finish at five of the six, finished in the top-20 of both USTFCCCA Program of the Year standings, and had both teams earn USTFCCCA All-Academic Team distinction.
Graves helped lead the Orange men to the ACC Championship in 2019, assisting Brien Bell in earning ACC Coach of the Year honors for the team's success. He also helped mentor the Orange to an NCAA Northeast Region Championships in 2018, 2021 and 2022.
A number of individuals have shined under Graves' guidance as well. Shannon Malone won the NCAA Northeast Regional in 2018, Iliass Aouani swept the 5k and 10k at the 2019 ACC Championships and Amanda Vestri has claimed an ACC indoor 5k title (2021) and was a two-time First Team All-American on the track, among others.
Graves joined Bell's staff after serving as operation assistant for the Florida State cross country and track and field programs. In his one-year stint at Florida State, the Seminoles swept the ACC men's and women's indoor track and field team championships, while the men's program doubled up and claimed the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championship as well.
Graves helped lead the 'Noles men's cross country team to a fifth-place finish at the ACC Championship as well.
Before joining the FSU staff, Graves served as a volunteer assistant coach at Appalachian State in 2016-17, mentoring the Mountaineers' women's team to a Sun Belt cross country title.
Prior to coaching, Graves ran professionally for ZAP Fitness/Reebok for two years after his graduation from Syracuse. The Abingdon, Virginia native qualified for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. He also finished in the Top-15 in the 12k, 15k, and 20k at the USATF Road Championships.
As a student-athlete at Syracuse, Graves helped start the Orange's run of conference titles, winning three conference championships with the Orange and helping 'Cuse finish in the top-10 at the NCAA Championship for the first time since 1957 as a redshirt senior in 2013.
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His wife Cassie Graves '12, also ran at Syracuse.
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