NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Steve Griggs, the winningest men's soccer coach in Yale history, will be inducted into the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame on Saturday, Jan. 27 in a ceremony at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in Bristol, Conn.

Griggs is part of a seven-person class who have made an impact on Connecticut soccer through playing, coaching, or officiating.

"It is a humbling honor to be in the company of so many of Connecticut's soccer greats. And it is equally an honor to represent all those great players who made this possible over my 18 seasons," Griggs said.

Griggs coached the Yale men's soccer team from 1978-95, leading the Bulldogs to one of the most successful stretches in program history. During his tenure, Griggs recorded an overall record of 143-110-21 and led his teams to three Ivy League Championships.

In 1986, Griggs won New England Coach of the Year honors after guiding Yale to an 11-2-2 mark and its first conference championship in over 30 years. The Elis made their second NCAA appearance ever and registered the second-highest win total in their storied history.

Three years later, Griggs' second conference championship team went 12-5 and reached the second round of the NCAA playoffs.

Perhaps the best season in Griggs' tenure was the 1991 Ivy League Championship team. The Bulldogs finished 12-4-2 that season and included Yale's first NCAA quarterfinal appearance, a first-ever win over perennial power Indiana, and a No. 15 final regular season ranking.

Overall, Griggs led the Bulldogs to 12 seasons with a record of .500 or better and coached five All-Americans.

Off the pitch, Griggs' student-athletes also excelled in the classroom.

"As I reflect back, I think I am proudest of how dedicated the players were to both the team and their academics. The graduation rate of 99.5% alongside our Ivy titles says it all," Griggs said.

Remarkably, Griggs also coached the Yale men's tennis team from 1976-92, leading the Bulldogs to similar success as his soccer teams. The Elis won four New England titles and registered a 234-131 record under Griggs' direction.

Following his tenure at Yale, Griggs remained involved on the Connecticut soccer scene, founding the FC Sarum Soccer Camp. He also continues to be a supporter of the Bulldogs' soccer team.

Griggs' impact has been felt by the current generation of Yale men's soccer staff and players.

"This is a really big deal and I am very happy for Coach Griggs to receive this honor from the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame. Coach Griggs has been a great supporter and mentor of mine since I became head coach at Yale," said Kylie Stannard, the 5K Corral Head Coach of the Bulldogs. "He is very passionate about the program and Yale Athletics after nearly 20 years at the helm. He is someone I have leaned on a lot and my goal has always been to get the program back to the most successful years of the program during his tenure. Congratulations to him and his family for this much deserved recognition,"

He also continues to be an avid supporter and ally of the Bulldogs' soccer team to this day.

"I remain a huge fan of Yale soccer and am immensely proud of Coach Stannard and the work he has done to rebuild this program," Griggs said.

For more information on the induction ceremony, click here.