PORTLAND, Ore. --- Leonard Griffin, a former MLS player and an assistant coach the past two years at UCLA, has been hired as an Assistant Men's Soccer Coach, announced University of Portland's first-year head coach Nick Carlin-Voigt. Griffin was an All-American defender at UCLA, and he's also coached at Cal and Saint Mary's.
"I'm excited Leonard has joined our staff and I welcome his family to The Bluff," Carlin-Voigt said. "Leonard has a successful playing and coaching pedigree, and we share a similar philosophy of caring about the guys more as people than players. Leonard is hungry to help rebuild the program and will be determined in his pursuit of building a championship culture. Working with him personally I know he will assist our program with integrity, honesty and values-based leadership. We will teach a style of play that is both exciting and balanced, while valuing the whole person. We will be relentless in our pursuit of excellence as we build a culture that unites the UP campus and greater Portland community. We won't rest until we achieve excellence in all aspects of the program.
"I'd also like to give special credit to Athletic Director Scott Leykam, Associate Athletic Director Buzz Stroud and Senior Associate Athletic Director Karen Peters for helping to make this possible."
"I am thrilled to be making the move back to Portland to join such a historically prominent soccer program," said Griffin. "I'd like to thank Head Coach Nick Carlin-Voigt as well as Athletic Director Scott Leykam and Associate Athletic Director Buzz Stroud for presenting me with this opportunity. I can't wait to get to work and help bring the men's soccer program back to the forefront of 'Soccer City USA'. I'd also like to thank head coach Jorge Salcedo and everyone at UCLA for helping me grow as a coach and their continued support during this transition."
Griffin, who originally hails from Palmdale, Calif., comes to The Bluff after two successful years on the UCLA bench. With the Bruins, he contributed to various aspects of the soccer program, including recruiting, the development of players, practice and gameday preparation, camp development, scouting, video breakdown, team academics and day-to-day field training.
UCLA reached a number one national ranking both years, and in 2014 the Bruins advanced to the NCAA College Cup Finals. Griffin also helped Carlin-Voigt build the nation's top-ranked recruiting class in 2014 and 2015, and he coached nine All-Pac 12 players, including 2014 MAC Hermann Trophy winner Leo Stoltz and 2015 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Jose Hernandez.
Prior to joining the UCLA staff, Griffin spent one season as an assistant coach at California and three seasons as an assistant at Saint Mary's. Griffin joined the California men's soccer staff in May of 2013, helping the Golden Bears to an appearance in the NCAA Quarterfinals. Cal was the No. 1 team in the nation for six weeks, and they received the No. 4 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, the highest seed in school history.
He spent the previous three seasons as an assistant coach at Saint Mary's, helping the Gaels reach the NCAA Elite Eight in 2011. The Gaels also won the West Coast Conference championship that year, and Griffin coached the 2012 WCC Defender of the Year Trevor Newquist.
Additionally, he spent three seasons as an assistant coach for the women's team at Cal State San Bernardino prior to coaching at Saint Mary's.
Griffin was a four-year standout at UCLA from 2000-2003, leading the Bruins to an NCAA title in 2002 and earning All-America honors in 2003. He was also a First Team All-Pac 10 selection in 2003, while also landing All-Far West Region accolades. Griffin was also a member of the U.S Soccer National Team U-17, U-18 and U-20 player pools.
Following his UCLA career, Griffin spent six seasons in the MLS, playing with the Chicago Fire (2004-06), the Columbus Crew (2007-08) and the Los Angeles Galaxy (2009). Griffin has also played professionally in the USL, which included a stint with the Portland Timbers (2007-08).
