Rashard Griffith named Middleton's girls basketball coach

Rashard Griffith never pictured himself as a basketball coach.

The former University of Wisconsin men’s basketball standout watched the daily toll it took on his former Badger coaches — Stu Jackson and Stan Van Gundy. Griffith, who returned to the UW in 2017 and earned a degree in community and non-profit leadership, saw Greg Gard grinding day after day.

“I didn’t want to be a coach in the beginning,” Griffith said. “But as I matured over the years, I saw it as a tremendous way to give back.”

Now, Middleton High School could be the beneficiary.

Griffith was named the new girls basketball coach at Middleton on Friday. Griffith replaces the legendary Jeff Kind, who stepped down last month when he and his wife moved out of the area.

There were seven applicants for the job, and a five-person committee interviewed four of the candidates. Middleton athletic director Jamie Sims, who led the interview committee, said that Griffith was a unanimous choice.

“We got together as a committee before we did interviews and talked about the things we were looking for, the things we wanted to see from whoever the next head coach would be,” Sims said. “And there was no question, Rashard stood out the most.

“Rashard touched on all the things we were looking for. When the interviews were over, I told everybody we could leave (the job) open and bring in more people. But everyone agreed on Rashard. It was unanimous.”

The 7-foot Griffith, who played at Wisconsin from 1993-95, has been on Middleton’s campus support team since May, 2021. Griffith wasn’t necessarily looking to start a coaching career right now, but when Kind left, he threw his hat in the ring.

Needless to say, Griffith was thrilled with the end result.

“It’s a dream come true,” Griffith said. “It’s the first time I’ll be a head coach, the first time I’ll have my own team. I’m just really grateful for the opportunity.”

Griffith, a native of Chicago, remains the most highly regarded basketball recruit in UW history.

Griffith, who played at King High School, was the top prep center in the country as a senior in the 1992-93 season. Griffith was recruited by all of the country’s elite programs, but selected Wisconsin over blue bloods such as North Carolina, Duke, Kentucky and Arizona.

Griffith averaged 13.9 points and 8.5 rebounds as a freshman on a team that included standouts Michael Finley and Tracy Webster. That season, Griffith helped lead Wisconsin to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 47 years, where the Badgers won a first round game over Cincinnati.

Griffith averaged 17.2 points and 10.8 rebounds as a sophomore and was named first-team all-Big Ten Conference. The Badgers slipped to 13-14 overall that season, though, after head coach Stu Jackson left and was replaced by interim Stan Van Gundy.

Griffith declared for the 1995 NBA Draft after his sophomore season and was a second-round pick of the Milwaukee Bucks (No. 38 overall). Griffith never played in the NBA, though.

Griffith and the Bucks could not come to a contract agreement and he went overseas to play in Turkey. That began a 15-year career in which Griffith played in Turkish, Israeli, and Italian leagues.

Griffith returned to the University of Wisconsin in 2017 to continue his studies and graduated with his degree in May, 2020.

Although Griffith has not been a head coach, he was part of a program called Courtology in Chicago where he was a mentor and coach for middle and high school girls. He also helped mentor several players — most notable big men — inside the UW program after returning to campus.

Sims said it wasn’t a concern that Griffith hasn’t been a head coach.

“Everybody has to start somewhere,” Sims said. “He has a lot of experience when it comes to player development. He was a great player himself. And we’re going to give him all the support that he needs.”

Griffith replaces Kind, one of the winningest coaches in state history. And he knows he has awfully large shoes to fill.

Kind, who was inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2018, compiled a remarkable 634-291 career record. Kind also left Middleton as the fifth-winningest girls coach in state history.

During Kind’s 30 years at MHS, he led the Cardinals to the WIAA Division 1 state tournament a remarkable 12 times. Prior to Kind’s arrival, Middleton never qualified for state.

On three occasions — 1993, 2003 and 2011 — Middleton reached the state championship game, but settled for a silver ball.

“I know coach Kind was a great coach — a Hall of Fame coach,” Griffith said. “But once they get to know me and who I am, once we build some trust, I’m very excited about what we can do. It starts with trust and respect and we’ll get that. And hopefully, I’ll give them a road map of how things can go.”

Griffith has watched several Middleton games from last year since applying for the job, and would like to play an up-tempo style this winter. But Griffith — a standout defender and rim protector as a player — also understands that defense often wins championships.

“It’s a delicate balance,” Griffith said. “If we’re able to play up-tempo and take care of the ball and play great defense, I believe in up tempo and a faster pace. It gives us more opportunities, more shots. But we’ve got to be solid in all areas.”

That’s Griffith’s challenge now.

Middleton, which was on the brink of winning the 2020 WIAA Division 1 state championship when COVID caused the state tournament to be canceled, is just 9-21 over the last two seasons. The Cardinals will return a solid core from last year’s 9-16 team and have talented youngsters in the program.

But it will be a challenge getting Middleton back near the top of the Big Eight Conference — one Griffith can’t wait to tackle.

“I remember when I played for Stu,” Griffith said. “On the first day he said, ‘All positions are open. May the best man win.’ We’ll do the same thing. They better be ready.”

Because the new head coach certainly will be.