Union University Athletics

Otis Griffin played basketball at Union from 1958-62. He joins his teammate Joe Aden who was inducted to the Union Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. 

Griffin earned numerous honors at Union including VSAC All-Conference in 1963 and VSAC Who’s Who in 1961 and 1962. He was also named VSAC All-Tournament in 1961 and 1962.

When he finished at Union, Griffin had scored 1,605 points, which puts him No. 12 on the all-time scoring list for Union men’s basketball. Upon graduating from Union, Griffin held four school records including points in a season (573), rebounds in a season (370), rebounds in a game (24) and free throws in a season (193). Currently he ranks in the Union record books top 15 in points in a season, No. 3 in rebounds in a season, No. 6 in rebounds per game and No. 2 in free throws made in a season. 

Griffin earned the Fred DeLay Memorial Award in 1962, given to the senior who is an outstanding athlete, a person of high academic standing, unquestionable loyalty and good character. He also earned the Dean F.E. Wright Award for GPA in his field. He was co-captain as a senior.

After his Union days, Griffin earned a master’s degree from UT Martin and then taught and coached one year in Arkansas. He then joined the Goodyear company in Ohio before eventually being transferred to Union City, Tennessee. In 1963-64 He played for the Goodyear Wingfoot Basketball Team in the Mid-West Industrial League. On the Goodyear team, Griffin played along side 1964 USA Olympic Basketball players Larry Brown (famous college and NBA coach), Pete McCaffrey and Dick Daniels.  

Griffin married Glenda Thomas Griffin, also a Union student. They had two sons, Mike and Mark.