Football
Rudy Griffin
- Title:
- Assistant Head Coach | Co-Defensive Coordinator | Defensive Line
- Email:
- rgriff39@utm.edu
Rudy Griffin enters the 2026 season in an expanded role at UT Martin, having been promoted to assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator while continuing to oversee the Skyhawks’ defensive line in his third season. The promotion reflects Griffin’s impact since arriving in Martin and his role in developing one of the most productive defensive fronts in the Football Championship Subdivision.
Griffin joined the UT Martin coaching staff as defensive line coach in 2024 after previous FCS stops at West Georgia and Northern Arizona.
Making an immediate impact in his first two seasons, Griffin has mentored a defensive line – coined the #CityBoys – to produce three All-Americans and one OVC-Big South Defensive Player of the Year performer while the front line has ranked as one of the best at the FCS level.
Griffin’s coaching résumé includes extensive experience developing defensive linemen at both the FCS and Division II levels. While at UT Martin, Griffin has produced four all-conference performers with Toby Camp, Christian Dowell, Keyshawn Johnson and Charles Perkins earning All-OVC-Big South honors. Dowell’s All-American campaign in 2024 propelled the nose tackle to an undrafted free agent contract with the Denver Broncos while Johnson’s breakout season in 2025 included being named a consensus All-American and OVC-Big South Defensive Player of the Year.
In his first season with the Skyhawks, he helped lead a defensive unit that played a significant role in UT Martin capturing its fourth consecutive conference championship. The Skyhawks ranked sixth nationally in rushing defense, allowing just 93.2 yards per game, while recording 82 tackles for loss and 30 sacks. Then in 2025 the Skyhawks ranked ninth nationally in rushing defense – allowing just 108.0 yards per game.
Prior to joining UT Martin, Griffin coached the defensive line at Northern Arizona during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, mentoring Big Sky Conference standouts including two-time all-conference selection Eloi Kwete and honorable mention pick Mark Ho Ching. Kwete earned first-team honors in 2023 after producing 9.5 sacks, 46 tackles, five quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles. Griffin also spent the spring portion of the 2024 season at West Georgia.
Griffin’s coaching career also includes stops at Idaho State, Navarro College, Birmingham-Southern, Hewitt-Trussville High School, East Central Community College, Bessemer High School and Lowndes High School. He began his coaching career at the high school level before earning a graduate assistant opportunity at Washington State.
A native of Hephzibah, Georgia, Griffin was a standout defensive lineman during his playing career with stops at The Citadel and Alabama. He began his collegiate career at The Citadel where he was a two-year starter on the defensive line from 2001-02 before transferring to Alabama where he walked onto the program and earned a scholarship. He then emerged as a starter at defensive tackle in 2004, finishing his career with the Crimson Tide with 33 total tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and an interception – along with being named SEC Player of the Week and Billy Neighbors Most Improved Defensive Lineman. His senior campaign was wrapped up with a 2006 Cotton Bowl victory where he served as a team captain.
Griffin graduated from Alabama in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in health and human performance. Him and his wife, Kimi Griffin, have four children: Genesis, Amelie, Kai and Kimari.
Griffin joined the UT Martin coaching staff as defensive line coach in 2024 after previous FCS stops at West Georgia and Northern Arizona.
Making an immediate impact in his first two seasons, Griffin has mentored a defensive line – coined the #CityBoys – to produce three All-Americans and one OVC-Big South Defensive Player of the Year performer while the front line has ranked as one of the best at the FCS level.
Griffin’s coaching résumé includes extensive experience developing defensive linemen at both the FCS and Division II levels. While at UT Martin, Griffin has produced four all-conference performers with Toby Camp, Christian Dowell, Keyshawn Johnson and Charles Perkins earning All-OVC-Big South honors. Dowell’s All-American campaign in 2024 propelled the nose tackle to an undrafted free agent contract with the Denver Broncos while Johnson’s breakout season in 2025 included being named a consensus All-American and OVC-Big South Defensive Player of the Year.
In his first season with the Skyhawks, he helped lead a defensive unit that played a significant role in UT Martin capturing its fourth consecutive conference championship. The Skyhawks ranked sixth nationally in rushing defense, allowing just 93.2 yards per game, while recording 82 tackles for loss and 30 sacks. Then in 2025 the Skyhawks ranked ninth nationally in rushing defense – allowing just 108.0 yards per game.
Prior to joining UT Martin, Griffin coached the defensive line at Northern Arizona during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, mentoring Big Sky Conference standouts including two-time all-conference selection Eloi Kwete and honorable mention pick Mark Ho Ching. Kwete earned first-team honors in 2023 after producing 9.5 sacks, 46 tackles, five quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles. Griffin also spent the spring portion of the 2024 season at West Georgia.
Griffin’s coaching career also includes stops at Idaho State, Navarro College, Birmingham-Southern, Hewitt-Trussville High School, East Central Community College, Bessemer High School and Lowndes High School. He began his coaching career at the high school level before earning a graduate assistant opportunity at Washington State.
A native of Hephzibah, Georgia, Griffin was a standout defensive lineman during his playing career with stops at The Citadel and Alabama. He began his collegiate career at The Citadel where he was a two-year starter on the defensive line from 2001-02 before transferring to Alabama where he walked onto the program and earned a scholarship. He then emerged as a starter at defensive tackle in 2004, finishing his career with the Crimson Tide with 33 total tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and an interception – along with being named SEC Player of the Week and Billy Neighbors Most Improved Defensive Lineman. His senior campaign was wrapped up with a 2006 Cotton Bowl victory where he served as a team captain.
Griffin graduated from Alabama in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in health and human performance. Him and his wife, Kimi Griffin, have four children: Genesis, Amelie, Kai and Kimari.
Saturday, August 15
Thursday, August 13
Tuesday, August 11
Monday, August 10
