After a couple years away from the Central Suburban League, Kendall Griffin is returning to the conference as the new athletic director at Maine East.

Griffin is also the first black athletic director in Maine Township high school history that dates back to 1902.

Griffin worked at Niles West for seven years with his final four (2014-18) as the Wolves athletic director. He spent 2011-13 as the assistant principal for operations at Niles West, 2018-19 at Glenbard East as dean of students and 2019-20 as athletic director at St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago.

“I’ve been fortunate to be part of two of the best athletic conferences in the state of Illinois,” Griffin said. “In the CSL I get to return, where I was part of the South division at Niles West. Then I got to be a part of the Chicago Catholic League and GCAC (Girls Catholic Athletic Association) with St. Ignatius. The Chicago Catholic has a rich history. It’s been great to be part of two amazing conferences.”

During his time at Niles West, the boys gymnastics team won state and the girls volleyball team qualified for state (fourth in 2016).

“We took the time to celebrate things like that and I look forward to doing that at Maine East,” Griffin said.

Before his run at Niles West, he was an assistant principal at Schaumburg from 2008-11 and dean of students at Argo Community High School for the 2007-08 school year.

Griffin is no stranger to athletics. He is a member of the Loras College Hall of Fame for his performance on the football field and track and field. Griffin was an All-American in football. He broke the Loras football receiving records for catches in a season (73), career receptions (208), career touchdowns caught (26), most yards receiving in a season (1,138 in 1992) and career receiving yards (3,036).

Griffin is a Fenwick High School alum and taught there for nine years.

He is excited to help elevate Maine East in his third run as an athletic director.

Griffin said every place is different, especially going from public school to private back to public. Each has its own differences and expectations. While he is familiar with religion in school, he also enjoys public schools and what they have to offer.

“Athletics are athletics,” Griffin said. “The kids are different. There are different traditions that come from each school and program. One of the things that I learned, now coming into my third time, is that it really is all about relationships and building them. You are meeting new coaches and kids. The first thing you want to do is start by building those positive, open and really great relationships. That’s what I focus on.”

Each school defines success differently, he says.  

“What does success look like,” Griffin said. “That’s what I am going to bring to Maine East. What does success look like here? In each building, success looks different. For some places, success is built on winning (state) championships or winning conference championships and going to state. In other places, it is not that. Are we preparing them for a life after Maine East or St. Ignatius. Are we talking about kids who will go to four-year schools or two-year schools or the military. For me, it is about getting in there to find out what success is and what I can do to lead and continue to lead. What can I do to help lead us to that success.”

Griffin is replacing Steve Schanz who leaves the position at the end of June to take the athletic director job at Sandburg. Griffin is friends with Schanz and he is excited to continue to build off what his predecessor started.

“This is a great opportunity for me,” Griffin said. “I am really looking forward to it. There are a lot of challenges I’ll have to face. I’m following a great athletic director who spent seven years there in Steve Schanz. I like to thank Steve for all the work he’s done along with Dr. Mike Pressler, the principal, for bringing me there and the district administration for providing me this wonderful opportunity.”

Taking over a job during the COVID-19 pandemic is hard, but he is up for the challenge. Everyone is in a position they’ve never been in before. It helps that he knows the CSL well.

“I am excited to return to the CSL,” Griffin said. “I know the schools and the ADs (athletic director) and they are a great group. Some of the best athletic administrators in the state of Illinois. That is something I looked forward to and am really excited about. It’s something I think that will help make me successful in coming over. I know the coaches and I know the ADs and I know the expectations that people have. I liken Maine East to Niles West in a lot of ways. Both are very diverse, culturally and perspectively that you’ll have some kids who are really good at one sport and others who are just trying it out (in high school) for the first time.”

Griffin says he loves to learn the history of the schools he works at. Now he’s excited to make some history at Maine East.

Enjoy award-winning local news by subscribing to the Journal & Topics in print or online.