National Girls And Women In Sports Day Spotlight: Former Athletic Director Tiz Griffith

National Girls and Women in Sports Day was first observed on February 4, 1987 and during the 37 years since it was first celebrated, the day has helped to honor the accomplishments of the millions girls and women in sports.

Just over one year after the first National Girls and Women in Sports Day, Penn State Delaware County hired its first female athletic director: Tiz Griffith.

Griffith, who arrived at Penn State Delco in 1981 as an instructor of physical education, spent 16 years as the director of athletics on campus from 1989-2004.

When she was charged with leading campus athletics, Delco sponsored four varsity sports: baseball, men's basketball, men's soccer and coed tennis. She immediately worked to add two sports for women in basketball and volleyball, which coincided with the opening of the Commons Gym in 1989. The department also sponsored varsity lacrosse, field hockey, golf and club ice hockey during her time as athletic director.

The number of student-athletes on campus more than doubled during Griffith's 16 years as athletic director. To many of those student-athletes, she served as not just the athletic director, but an advisor, mentor and confidant.

During her Penn State Brandywine Athletics Hall of Fame acceptance speech in 2020, Griffith noted that when she was in charge, it was about more than just wins and losses. She wanted to see her student-athletes succeed academically and after graduation. Griffith also noted the number of student-athletes recognized with academic awards during her tenure.

Griffith successfully nominated five women for the John S. Egli Scholar-Athlete Award, the top academic award given out each year by the Penn State University Athletic Conference (then known as the Commonwealth Campus Athletic Conference) since 1983. Prior to Griffith's arrival, Delco had just one Egli honoree and no female winners. Today, Brandywine boasts 11 female winners, including current athletic director Bobbi Caprice, and 17 total Egli honorees, both the highest total among the 14 PSUAC campuses.

In addition to leading the athletic department, Griffith wore many other hats. She continued to teach four Kinesiology classes each semester, while serving as head coach of the tennis and field hockey teams.

Field hockey and lacrosse were the first loves in sports for Griffith, who was an all-American field hockey player at Temple University. A two-sport athlete in college, Griffith was inducted into the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame and the Delaware County chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Griffith was also one of six members of the inaugural Penn State Brandywine Athletics Hall of Fame class in 2020.

Her impact on the campus continues today as she serves on the hall of fame committee. Griffith has attended all five hall of fame ceremonies and has been selected three times by former Delco student-athletes to be an introductory speaker.