Former LCM baseball coach Steve Griffith will be joining an elite group of coaches. In January, Coach Griff will be inducted into the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.
Griffith had a record of 609-256 in 26 seasons with the Bears, making the playoffs 20 seasons with a playoff record of 68-40. In 18 of those 20 playoff trips the Bears advanced to the second round. In 1996 he reached the 4A State Championship game. Five other times his teams made the Region Finals.
Griffith almost missed the call. “I didn’t answer the first time because I didn’t recognize the number. Then when I took the call, I looked the guy up to make sure it wasn’t a prank. I admit I was floored. It’s a really good feeling though.”
“My first thought after the initial shock was all of the people involved that did this with me. Players, coaches, parents, friends. Some great relationships were made and many I still have today. I played at LCM, coached at LCM and got to raise my family here. Not many get to do that. I also got to coach my son (Gage) which is a proud memory. I have a great support group that starts with my wife Lana.”
Griffith not only won games, he transformed Don Gibbens Field from grass, dirt and a fence to one of the best high school facilities in the area at the time. And he did most of it on his own through fundraising efforts.
Tough on the field, Griffith has a heart for people in need. He’s lead countless efforts with the support of his baseball family to help those who need it, most of it behind the scenes.
Current LCM baseball coach Hunter Hagler, played against Griff and the Bears when he was at Vidor. He then became an assistant under Griffith before taking over the program when he retired in 2019.
Hagler nominated him for the honor and said, “The real question isn’t why someone would nominate Coach Griff — it’s how anyone couldn’t.
Everything I’ve accomplished in my career can be traced back to him. He was the first to give me a chance, the first to trust me, and the first to genuinely believe in me. And that’s just who Griff is: someone who sees potential in people long before they see it in themselves.
But what he taught me went far beyond the game. He showed me what it means to be a man — a father, a husband, and a mentor. He led by example, always putting others first, always willing to go the extra mile for someone in need. Selflessness wasn’t something he preached; it was something he lived.
Griff’s legacy in our program will never be measured by wins or titles. It will be measured by the countless lives he impacted, the character he built in others, and the way he showed up — every single day — with unwavering commitment and heart. He had a gift for bringing out the best in every player, not just on the field but far beyond it.
He’s one of the best to ever do it. This recognition is long overdue — and more than deserved.”
Chris Buechner played for Griff and was an assistant for him before becoming a head coach. Last season he lead his Kingwood Park Panthers to the 5A D2 State Championship Game and finished 35-9 on the season.
“I had the privilege of not only playing for Coach Griff, but also getting to coach with him as well. He is a big part of the reason I wanted to pursue coaching as a career. Coach Griff’s dedication went far beyond wins and losses. From the countless late nights preparing for opponents, to checking in on families in need, to worrying about his players health and well being off the field, he has dedicated his life to helping others.
You can tell how many lives he has impacted just by seeing how many ex-players come back to support his program. He not only teaches players about the game of baseball, but also helps mold them into good young men. The love and dedication that he pours into his players, their families and the program is why Coach Griff has excelled at LCM. Over the course of his remarkable career, he has earned more than 600 wins, but his greatest legacy is the character and values he instilled in those he coached. I am so fortunate and grateful to have learned from one of the best, and he has more than earned his place in the Texas High School Baseball Hall of Fame.”
Wayne Stephenson (below), current assistant principal in Orangefield, also coached with Griffith for many years at LCM. Stephenson, a former Assistant Coach of the Year by the THSBCA, used much of what he learned with Griff to coach successful select softball teams.
“My family and I are thrilled that Griff is receiving this much-deserved honor. Few have dedicated their lives to serving and impacting our community like Steve and Lana Griffith. I’m truly blessed to call him both a mentor and a friend. Thank you for everything Griff. It’s still good to be on a winner.”
Griffith was inducted into the Southeast Texas Coaches Hall of Fame in 2020. And currently he teaches in
Starks, Louisiana where he was recognized as one of the states Teachers of the Year last year.
The former Bear Boss will join a short list of area coaches in the Hall. He played and coached against Ronnie Anderson (2003) and Chuck Young (2008). Griffith said, “It’s an honor anytime you’re on a list with those men.”
-Gary Stelly, KOGT-
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