{{Short description|American softball coach and former player}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox college coach | image = | name = Sara Griffin | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|2|19}} | birth_place = [[Simi Valley, California]], U.S. | player_years1 = 1995–1998 | player_team1 = [[Michigan Wolverines softball|Michigan]] | player_positions = Pitcher, third base, designated player | coach_years1 = 1999 | coach_team1 = [[Arizona State Sun Devils softball|Arizona State]] (asst.) | coach_years2 = 2000 | coach_team2 = [[Utah Utes softball|Utah]] (asst.) | coach_years3 = 2009–2011 | coach_team3 = [[Loyola Marymount Lions softball|Loyola Marymount]] (asst.) | admin_years1 = 2002–2008 | admin_team1 = [[USC Trojans|USC]] (Director of Compliance) | admin_years2 = 2008–2013 | admin_team2 = Loyola Marymount (Assoc. AD- Compliance) | awards = * 3× first-team All-American (1995, 1996, 1998) * 3× first-team All-Big Ten (1995, 1996, 1998) | championships = As player: * 3x First Team NFCA All-American- Utility (1995, 1996,1998) * Big Ten Suzie Favor Female Athlete of the Year 1998 * 3× Big Ten regular season (1995, 1996, 1998) * 4× [[Big Ten Conference softball tournament|Big Ten tournament]] (1995–1998) * 2× [[Big Ten Conference Softball Player of the Year|Big Ten Player of the Year]] (1995, 1996) * [[Big Ten Conference Softball Pitcher of the Year|Big Ten Pitcher of the Year]] (1998) * [[Big Ten Conference Softball Freshman of the Year|Big Ten Freshman of the Year]] (1995) * High School CIF Player of the Year (1993) * California High School Softball Player of the Year (1993) As an assistant coach: * [[Mountain West Conference|MWC]] regular season and tournament (2000) }}
'''Sara Griffin''' (born February 19, 1976),<ref name=Michigan>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19991006060831/http://mgoblue.com/Softball/97-98/players/griffin.html|archivedate=October 6, 1999|title=Sara Griffin|work=MGoBlue.com|publisher=University of Michigan|url=http://mgoblue.com/Softball/97-98/players/griffin.html|accessdate=June 27, 2018}}</ref> later known as '''Sara Webster''', is a softball coach and former softball player and athletic compliance officer. While playing for the [[University of Michigan]] from 1995 to 1998, she was a three-time, first-team National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American. She compiled a win–loss record of 106–19 at Michigan and concluded her collegiate career as the career leader in wins in the [[Big Ten Conference]].
==Early years== Griffin grew up in [[Simi Valley, California]].<ref name=Michigan /> She played high school softball for [[Simi Valley High School]]. She was named CIF Player of the Year and California Player of the Year.<ref>{{cite news|title=Griffin Gives Foes the Shivers at Michigan|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|author=Dana Haddad|date=May 19, 1995|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/21442430.html?dids=21442430:21442430&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+19%2C+1995&author=DANA+HADDAD&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Griffin+Gives+Foes+the+Shivers+at+Michigan&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130709003544/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/21442430.html?dids=21442430:21442430&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+19,+1995&author=DANA+HADDAD&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Griffin+Gives+Foes+the+Shivers+at+Michigan&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 9, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Smith, Griffin Named Southland Co-Athletes of Year|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=June 24, 1994|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/59529908.html?dids=59529908:59529908&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+24%2C+1994&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Smith%2C+Griffin+Named+Southland+Co-Athletes+of+Year&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130709003523/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/59529908.html?dids=59529908:59529908&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+24,+1994&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Smith,+Griffin+Named+Southland+Co-Athletes+of+Year&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 9, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Simi Valley's Griffin Did It All In Her Career|newspaper=Daily News of Los Angeles|date=June 14, 1994|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LA&p_theme=la&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EF66AAA813DED38&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM}}</ref>
==University of Michigan== Griffin committed to play softball at the [[University of Michigan]] in October 1993.<ref>{{cite news|title=Softball Star Griffin Commits To Michigan|date=October 29, 1993|newspaper=Daily News of Los Angeles |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LA&p_theme=la&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EF619DCE90E3626&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM}}</ref> She enrolled at Michigan in the fall of 1994. She was a [[pitcher]]/[[utility player]] for the [[Michigan Wolverines softball]] team from 1995 to 1998. In four years with Michigan, she compiled a win–loss record of 106–19.<ref name=RB/>
On March 8, 1996, she retired all 21 batters she faced for a [[Perfect game (baseball)|perfect game]] against an [[Oklahoma Sooners|Oklahoma]] team ranked No. 10 in the country.<ref>{{cite news|title=Wolverine pitcher Griffin hurls perfect game over break|author=Mark Snyder|newspaper=The Michigan Daily|date=March 11, 1996|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_v9JAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NB4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2318,2329621&dq=michigan+sara-griffin&hl=en}}</ref> As a senior in 1998, she led the Big Ten Conference in wins (17–0), ERA (1.09) and strikeouts (88). Her overall record in 1998 (including non-conference games) was 35–3.<ref name=RB/><ref>{{cite news|title=Griffin a Gem on Diamond for Michigan, but Postseason Exposes Flaw|author=Paige Leech|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=July 17, 1996|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/16449439.html?dids=16449439:16449439&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+17%2C+1996&author=PAIGE+A.+LEECH&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=SOFTBALL%3B+Griffin+a+Gem+on+Diamond+for+Michigan%2C+but+Postseason+Exposes+Flaw&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130709003541/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/16449439.html?dids=16449439:16449439&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+17,+1996&author=PAIGE+A.+LEECH&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=SOFTBALL;+Griffin+a+Gem+on+Diamond+for+Michigan,+but+Postseason+Exposes+Flaw&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 9, 2013}}</ref>
Griffin was selected as a first-team NFCA All-American in 1995, 1996, and 1998. In 1998, she became the first Michigan athlete to receive the Suzy Favor Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year Award. She was also selected as the [[Big Ten Conference Softball Player of the Year]] in 1995 and 1996. She was also named the University of Michigan's Female Athlete of the Year in 1996 and 1998.<ref name=RB/>
Griffin was the 15th player in NCAA Division I history to pass the 100-win mark. During her career at Michigan, she set both Michigan and [[Big Ten Conference]] records for most wins in a career.<ref name=RB>{{cite web|title=2013 University of Michigan Softball Record Book|publisher=University of Michigan|year=2013|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/mich/sports/w-softbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/sfb-recordbook-2012.pdf|access-date=July 9, 2013|archive-date=March 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310235029/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/mich/sports/w-softbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/sfb-recordbook-2012.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=Bio>{{cite news|title=Sara Webster Biography|publisher=Loyola Marymount University|url=http://www.lmulions.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/webster_sara00.html}}</ref>
Griffin also excelled as a batter. She set Michigan records for career RBIs (184) and doubles (58) and still ranks among the top four in both categories. Her .384 career [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] remains the second highest in Michigan history.<ref name=RB/>
Griffin graduated from the University of Michigan in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in communications. In 2002, she also received a master's degree in education (sports management) from Ohio State University.
In 2011, Griffin was inducted into the [[University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor]]. She was the fifth Michigan softball player named to the Hall of Honor, joining [[Penny Neer]], [[Vicki Morrow]], [[Alicia Seegert]], and [[Jenny Allard]].<ref name=RB/><ref>{{cite web|title=Six to be Inducted into Michigan's Hall of Honor|date=January 11, 2011|publisher=CBS Sports|work=MGoblue.com|url=http://www.mgoblue.com/genrel/011111aaa.html}}</ref>
==Coaching and compliance career== Griffin began a career as a softball coach. She has held coaching positions at [[Arizona State Sun Devils|Arizona State]] (asst. coach 1999), [[Utah Utes|Utah]] (asst. coach, 2000), and [[Loyola Marymount University]] (asst. coach and associate athletic director for compliance, 2008–2013). From 2002 to 2008, she was the Director of Compliance at the [[University of Southern California]]. Griffin is a private instructor, working with kids in the Columbus, Ohio area.
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
{{Michigan Wolverines softball navbox}} {{Big Ten Conference Softball Player of the Year navbox}} {{Big Ten Athlete of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Griffin, Sara}} [[Category:1976 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Softball coaches from California]] [[Category:Michigan Wolverines softball players]] [[Category:Arizona State Sun Devils softball coaches]] [[Category:Utah Utes softball coaches]] [[Category:Loyola Marymount Lions softball coaches]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Simi Valley, California]] [[Category:Softball players from California]] [[Category:Big Ten Athlete of the Year winners]]