DALLAS (SMU) – SMU Women's Soccer Head Coach Nicole Nelson announced the addition of Chassion Griggs as an Assistant Coach / Goalkeeper Coach on Friday.  

"We are very excited to add Chassion to this coaching staff," Nelson said. His years of experience at both the college and club levels will add value immediately to our student-athletes' development, especially for our goalkeepers. Most importantly, Chassion's values align with those of our program, and he is very passionate about helping us make history over the next few years." 

Prior to his arrival at SMU, Griggs spent 11 seasons as a full-time assistant and five as Associate Head Coach at San Diego State. Griggs helped lead SDSU to four Mountain West regular-season tournament titles, two tournament championship titles and two NCAA Tournament appearances during his tenure.

"I want to sincerely thank Nicole for the opportunity to join this program," Griggs said.  "Her confidence in my ability to contribute to this team and help build upon what is already a special staff means more than I can express. From my very first conversations with Nicole and Miles, it was clear that SMU is a truly unique place. The people, the vision, the culture, and the high standards that have been established made this an opportunity I could not pass up."

"I am excited to get to work, invest in this program, and collaborate with Nicole, Miles, Nicky, and Paula as we pursue something special together. I look forward to making a meaningful impact in the lives of our student-athletes and am grateful for the opportunity to help build upon the strong foundation already in place as SMU continues its journey in the ACC era."

Griggs helped lead the Aztecs to back-to-back nine-win seasons in 2024 and 2025. In 2025, SDSU posted seven shutouts, including defeating Colorado State 1-0 in the first round of the Mountain West Tournament.

In 2023, Griggs helped the Aztecs to their sixth Mountain West title since his arrival on The Mesa. The Scarlet and Black finished with a 14-3-3 record, including going 9-1-1 in conference matches.
Keeper Alexa Madueno, under Griggs' tutelage, recorded the second 100+ save season in program history in 2023 and followed it up with 103 saves in 2024. Her 411 career saves are the most in school history, as are her 28 shutouts. Madueno also ranks in the top ten in the SDSU record book in career goals against average (1.35, 8th).

In 2019, he guided Brooke Lisowski to inclusion on the Mountain West All-Newcomer Team.  The graduate transfer posted a 10-9-1 overall record but was 8-3-0 in conference play. She recorded five shutouts, four in league play, with a 1.72 goals against average.

As an official member of the coaching staff in 2017, Griggs helped the Aztecs win their first Mountain West tournament title since 2014 and return to the NCAA tournament for the first time in three years. Working with the keepers, Griggs mentored a group that posted eight shutouts and allowed one goal or less in 12 of SDSU's final 15 games. Starting keeper Gabby English blanked a pair of foes in the conference tournament to help lead the Aztecs to the title. She earned MW all-tournament recognition for her efforts.

In his two seasons (2014, 2016) as a volunteer assistant coach, the Aztecs posted a record of 25-12-6 (15-4-3 Mountain West), won an MW regular-season and tournament title, and advanced to the NCAA Championship. He tutored four-year letter-winning goalkeeper Melanie Vaughn, who ended up being a three-time all-MW tournament performer and an all-conference second-team goalkeeper her senior campaign.

Griggs brought to SDSU six years of collegiate coaching experience from his time spent at Point Loma Nazarene and Cuyamaca College. As an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Sea Lions, he guided the PLNU men's team to its best finish in eight seasons and coached the goalkeeping unit to the 15th-best goals-against average in the nation. During his time with the women's team, he helped PLNU to a PacWest title and an NCAA appearance. Griggs also mentored a goalkeeping group that produced the second-best GAA nationally and the conference goalie of the year, who went on to earn NSCAA all-West Region accolades.

Prior to his time at Point Loma Nazarene, Griggs coached for two seasons at Cuyamaca College. During his stint with the men's team in Rancho San Diego, the Coyotes posted back-to-back winning seasons and finished second in their league twice. Griggs also guided Cuyamaca's goalie to back-to-back conference goalkeeper-of-the-year awards.

Outside of the college ranks, Griggs coached for ECNL Rebels SC and served as the college director in addition to his coaching responsibilities.

Griggs currently holds a USSF "B" license and will be working towards his USSF "A" license next cycle.

He played collegiately at Cal State Bakersfield and was part of the 2004 team that advanced to the sweet 16.