York University Athletics & Recreation announced Friday the hiring of Nathaniel Griffith as the new Offensive Coordinator for the Lions football program.
 
Griffith, who has been a member of the Lions coaching staff since 2014, earns this promotion to Offensive Coordinator after most recently serving as the program's special teams coordinator until the 2021 season.
 
Away from the football field, Griffith is a familiar face for Lions staff members and student-athletes, serving as the full time Equipment Services Assistant & Stadium Attendant at York Athletics & Recreation.
 
"Nathaniel's commitment to Lions football, both as a player and a coach, has been evident over the course of his nearly decade-long stint as a dedicated member of this program," said Warren Craney, York's head football coach. "We set out to find someone who can take our team's offence to the next level, and I believe his familiarity with the program and depth of coaching experience will allow him to do that."
 
Griffith's time with York extends even further back than his addition to the football staff. He spent three seasons with the Lions as a receiver (2010-12) and was also a team captain. He earned a degree in psychology from York in 2015, with a teachable in kinesiology. Prior to coming to York, he played for the Brampton Bulldogs in the OVFL and at Vanier College.
 
This season marks Griffith's third year as a head coach in club football. He re-joined his old minor football organization in Brampton and served as Bulldogs head coach. He also served as a receivers coach for the Bulldogs for three seasons from 2006-2008. In between those stints, he was the receiver coach for the York Region Lions in 2015 and 2016, before becoming offensive coordinator for the same team in 2017 – a position he held for two years.
 
Griffith will get to debut as the Lions' play-caller when York opens its 2022 football season at York Lions Stadium playing host to the Waterloo Warriors on Aug. 27, with the opening kick-off coming at 1 pm.