UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Head coach Jeff Cook added Owen Griffith to his coaching staff and promoted two current members of his staff, Kate Deakins and Callum Pritchatt.
OWEN GRIFFITH
The North Region Staff of the Year will have a familiar face rejoining the program. Former player and coaching staff member Owen Griffith will be returning to Happy Valley as the Volunteer Assistant Coach once again.
Griffith graduated from Penn State in 2014 as a three-time captain who appeared in 77 career matches. As a leader of the team, he led the Nittany Lions to two consecutive Big Ten titles in 2012 and 2013, two NCAA tournament appearances and a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2013. The Lewisburg, Pennsylvania native was a three-time All-Big Ten honoree while also earning Academic All-Big Ten honors. In his senior season, Griffith was named a 2014 Big Ten Preseason Player to Watch and earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors over the course of his career.
In 2015 Griffith signed with Eastern Suburbs AFC of New Zealand’s Northern Premier League, helping them win both the Northern Premier League and the Chatham Cup during his stint.
Griffith joined head coach at the time Bob Warming’s coaching staff as the Volunteer Assistant Coach upon graduating and in his fourth season, was promoted to director of operations. After leaving Penn State, he spent a year as an assistant coach at the University of Denver in 2019.
In the spring of 2020 Griffith returned to Happy Valley to begin his research and obtain his master’s degree by December of 2021. He will continue his research into concussion and athletic performance during is PhD studies while working on Coach Cook’s staff.
COACH COOK ON GRIFFITH
“I am so pleased to welcome Owen back to the Penn State men’s soccer program,” said Cook. “He enjoyed a decorated career as a student athlete and was instrumental to the success of this program as a staff member. He has infectious energy and a deep passion for the Nittany Lions. I am excited he will be with us this fall.”
CALLUM PRICHATT
Previous Volunteer Assistant Coach Callum Pritchatt will be promoted to Director of Player Development. After a successful playing career for the Nittany Lions where he played in 59 career games from 2017-2020, he joined the coaching staff in 2021.
Pritchatt helps with all…
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