Pete Griffin

Robert "Pete" 'Griffin (May 29, 1916 – August 8, 1998) was an American college football coach. He served as the head football coach at Florida A&M University (FAMU) for their 1970 season after serving the previous 25 as a defensive assistant coach. He also served as head coach of the track and field team of the Rattlers in the 1950s and 1960s.

Biography A native of Columbus, Ohio, Griffin played the center position for the Rattlers from 1937 to 1939. He returned to Florida A&M in 1944, and remained on staff as a defensive assistant coach through their 1969 season. Griffin was promoted to head coach in January 1970 after the retirement of long-time head coach Jake Gaither. He subsequently returned to Florida A&M to serve as a defenseive assistant coach under Jim Williams for their 1972 and 1973 seasons.

Griffin also served as head coach of the track and field squad at Florida A&M and led the Rattlers to seven consecutive Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships from 1955 to 1962. His most celebrated track athlete was Bob Hayes who set a world record for the 100-yard dash with a time of 9.1 seconds in 1963 and won a pair of gold medals at the 1964 Summer Olympics.

Griffin retired from Florida A&M in 1976 and remained in Tallahassee until his passing on August 8, 1998.