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Volleyball

Head Coach Nick Griffin

After serving as an assistant coach at the collegiate level for the better part of a decade, Georgetown College named Nick Griffin its fourth head volleyball coach in the program’s 30 year history in July 2009.

Taking the reigns of one of the most storied programs in the NAIA as a rookie head coach, Griffin guided the veteran team to its most successful season in Georgetown history. Along the way to their NAIA National Runner-Up finish, the Tigers compiled a 45-4 worksheet, faced 27 ranked opponents, collected their 13^th Mid-South Conference Championship and secured their 14^th straight MSC Tournament Championship.

At the end of Griffin's first year, many accolades were given to the Tigers, including two NAIA All-Americans, two AVCA All-Americans, two NAIA All-Tournament Team selections, the MSC Player of the Year, three AVCA All-Southeast Region performers and a program-record five First Team All-MSC honorees. For his efforts, Griffin was named the 2009 AVCA Southeast Region Coach of the Year and the MSC Coach of the Year.

Griffin came to Georgetown from Olivet Nazarene University, another NAIA volleyball powerhouse. During his seven seasons under head coach Brenda Williams, ONU enjoyed the program's greatest stretch in school history. The Tigers posted a 248-95 overall record, captured six Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Championships, won six CCAC Tournament Championships and made five NAIA National Championship appearances, including three straight from 2006-2008.

As ONU’s primary assistant from 2005-2008, Griffin’s technical training and enthusiasm for recruiting strengthened the program’s emergence as a national NAIA power. Aside from his duties as recruiting and technical coordinators, he also directed the ONU Volleyball Camps and handled volleyball sports information. In his role as recruiting coordinator, Griffin was responsible for signing five classes (2006-2010), where three became NAIA All-Americans, seven were named all-conference, one CCAC Player of the Year and two CCAC Freshmen of the Year were recognized. Overall, Olivet’s teams during these seasons featured five NAIA All-Americans, 10 all-region selections and 10 all-conference performers. Those accolades also included three CCAC Players of the Year, two Region VII Players of the Year, and three CCAC Freshmen of the Year.

An active member of the volleyball community, Griffin’s volleyball background includes extensive involvement at the club level. While serving an assistant coach at Aquinas College (Mich.) in 2004, Griffin served as an Associate Training Coordinator with USA Michigan Volleyball, where developed a travel program for the greater Grand Rapids area. Then in 2006, he founded Competitive Edge Volleyball Club, an elite youth program aimed to develop athletes in Illinois through technical instruction and high-level competition. Serving as the master coach, the club expanded from one team in 2006 to over 80 athletes by 2008. Griffin’s 18-1 team finished third at the 2008 Asics Junior National Championships, while each of the program’s seniors moved on to play at the collegiate level.

Griffin was a four-year starter for the ONU men’s club team from 1999-2003, leading the team to a fifth place finish at the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Club Championships in 2003.

A native of Michigan, Griffin graduated from Olivet Nazarene in 2004 with a Bachelor Degree in history and a Masters Degree in teaching in 2007. Nicholas and his wife, Melanie, reside in Georgetown.

Assistant Coach Kim Thompson

Former Kentucky Wildcat Kim Thompson returns for her second season as an assistant coach in 2010.

At Georgetown, Thompson trains the Tiger outside hitters, assists in practice and has a supportive role in recruiting. Her additional duties include game management and assisting with summer camps. In her first season with the program, the Tigers made history by finishing as the NAIA National Runner-Up with a 45-4 record.

As a player, Thompson had a decorated collegiate career. Starting her career at the University of Cincinnati in 1985, she was a two-year starter for the Bearcats before finishing her career at the University of Kentucky.

During her two seasons in Lexington under head coach Kathy DeBoer, Thompson helped Kentucky to a 57-9 overall record, back-to-back Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championships and consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 1987 and 1988. The 1988 season still stands as the greatest volleyball season in UK history as the Wildcats went 31-2 and finished in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Thompson was named All-SEC along with being honored as the SEC Tournament MVP.

Thompson’s name has been etched in the record books in a number of statistical categories at UK. Her 483 kills in 1988 places eighth all-time and her 1,191 attack attempts, also in that year, stands eighth all-time. Until recently, Thompson’s name could also be found in the career record books for kills, attack percentage and digs.

Following her outstanding collegiate career, Thompson was invited to tryout for the USA Olympic team in 1989. She was also selected as one of the final 12 players to compete for the United States in the 1989 World Games.

In the off-season, Thompson coaches at the club level with Thoroughbred Elite Volleyball Academy, serving as the head coach for the 16-1 team. Her volleyball background also includes two years coaching at Scott County High School.

Thompson earned her bachelor's degree in Marketing from the University of Kentucky in 1989. She lives in Georgetown with her four sons: LaRon, Kendrick, Terrin and Jeremy.