AOP Spotlight Series: Cindy Anderson Griffin, Bishop McDevitt - Class of 1987

June 16, 2020

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A new feature to the website, the Spotlight Series will include interviews with former AOP student-athletes who continued their athletic participation in one form or another after high school.

Cindy Anderson Griffin, Bishop McDevitt (Class of 1987)

Led the Lady Lancers to the 1986 & 1987 Philadelphia Catholic League Girls' Basketball Championships
Scored 17 points in the 1987 Championship game win (56-38) over Archbishop Carroll as McDevitt earned a top-10 ranking nationally

                    Saint Joseph's University (1987-91)
                      * Two-time All-Big 5 selection and three-time team captain
                      * Compiled 662 points, 278 rebounds, 510 assists and 197 steals in her career
                      * Inducted into the SJU Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998

Head Women's Basketball Coaching Career
                      * Led Loyola Maryland to a 48-33 overall record and three appearances in the MAAC Semifinals in her three seasons (1998-01)
                      * Has compiled 330 victories and 11 postseason appearances in her 19 seasons at Saint Joseph's University
                        * Guided the Hawks to the 2013 A-10 Championship and the 2nd Round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament
                      * She is the eighth coach in NCAA Division I history to lead her alma mater to the NCAA Tournament as a player and a coach

Your fond memories of being a student-athlete at Bishop McDevitt:
“Winning two Catholic League Championships back-to-back definitely highlight the experience in high school. And being ranked in the top 10 in the USA Today for girls’ basketball my senior year [1986-87] is definitely one of the highlights.”

You recently delivered a video message to the Bishop McDevitt Class of 2020:
“I’ve stayed connected with McDevitt thru their Alumni Association, and being able to stay involved and assist with their quest to stay open and to offer an education to maybe a young person that wouldn’t have that opportunity. So I’ve been able to help out that way and been honored to do that. To be able to speak to the graduating class…I knew a lot of people support their class, and not just that class but classes before them. A lot of alumni that have given back, not just monetarily, but have that Lancer Spirit. It’s really rewarding. I’ve been to a couple graduations to some of the kids I’ve mentored over the years. It’s just been so rewarding in so many ways.”

How much does playing girls’ basketball in the Philadelphia Catholic League prepare student-athletes for competing in college?
“It starts with talent. They’re very talented players. But I also think they have very dedicated and knowledgeable coaches that obviously don’t do this for the money. They do it because they love the competition, they love to mentor young people, and they love to give back. I think a lot of the coaches that have experience coaching in the Catholic League have grown up around the Catholic League, and played in the Catholic League, and they understand the importance of it. But also, it prepares [the student-athletes] because they’ve played on a big stage. They played in a competitive league and you’re going down to different courts.”

On former Cardinal O’Hara & Saint Joseph’s women’s basketball student-athlete Natasha Cloud:
“She’s a leader. She’s always been a leader in everything that she’s done. Her being able to speak out on social issues. First of all, she’s the point guard of the WNBA Champs. That just says in and of itself so much. But also being a leader off the court, and having a voice. Natasha is a very outgoing person. She’s an extrovert. She is the type of kid that attracts people. As a coach, being able to see her grow on and off the court has been so rewarding. I’m really really proud of her because she could have just settled. I’m just going to be this player and win the WNBA and not say anything about anything. But she feels it’s so important in her soul to give back, not only to her community, but communities that don’t have the opportunities. She’s really big on preventive gun violence, and now with social injustice going on with Black Lives Matter. She has a great story, and for her to be able to share it is really beneficial to everybody. It doesn’t matter if you’re a women’s basketball player or follower, or basketball or football, she’s touching everybody and not just sports."

On the importance of student-athletes in your program continuing to grow as individuals thru community service:
“It’s really important and follows the Saint Joseph’s philosophy as being a person with and for others. We use the phrase ‘Developing Everyday Champions.’ Being that everyday person that’s going to be responsible, reliable, intelligent. To get them ready for what’s next. But also give back, to serve. We as a university are very involved in with community service, but even as a team we are too. I think it’s really important. As much as the people we serve get a lot out of it, our players get a ton more…double the effect being able to serve.”

Previous AOP Spotlights
Ryan Quigley, Lansdale Catholic (Class of 2016)
Denise Dillon, Cardinal O'Hara (Class of 1992)
Chris Mooney, Archbishop Ryan (Class of 1990)
Marc Jackson, Roman (Class of 1993)