Spartanburg Day School

Building upon a strong foundation and tradition, information gathered through comprehensive study, parent and player interest, and growing enrollment, football and lacrosse will join the roster of athletic offerings in the 2024-25 school year. These additions will grow Griffin Athletics from 10 sports to 12.

“As a school that is committed to a thoughtfully designed, whole child educational experience that supports students in and out of the classroom, we recognize the positive and meaningful impact athletics can have on a young person’s development,” said Head of School Dave Skeen. “Spartanburg Day School Athletics serves as a mission critical component in achieving our goals of building character while fostering school pride, unity, and teamwork. The intentional addition of football and lacrosse to the Griffin experience will further enrich our offerings and provide even more opportunities for students to grow and develop as athletes. We are very much looking forward to the ‘Friday Night Lights’ experience on our campus.”

SDS is pleased to announce the reestablishment of Griffin Football, catering to students in grades 5-8. This program, last a part of SDS athletics in 1981, will begin as a middle school team next year with the goal of seeding a junior varsity and then varsity football team in the years to come. The school is currently in a national search for a new football program director and head coach.  

Also being reintroduced is Griffin Lacrosse – returning after a 13-year hiatus. Boys' and girls' lacrosse teams for 5th-8th grade students will nurture a love for the sport and prepare students for future athletic endeavors. As with football, this inaugural season will lead to the growth up to a varsity program in both the boys’ and girls’ lacrosse teams. SDS Director of Athletics and Special Projects Mike Cerino, a head lacrosse coach at two storied college lacrosse programs, a major league lacrosse head coach, and NCAA champion, is on board as the head coach for the boys' lacrosse team. The school is engaged in a national search for its inaugural program director for girls’ lacrosse and looks forward to a successful launch of the middle school program in the spring of 2025. 

“We’re thrilled our athletes will be able to participate in football and lacrosse as part of Spartanburg Day School Athletics next year,” Cerino said. “By starting in the Middle School and growing up with our students, we’re able to build a well-rounded athletic program that supports students from their early years through to varsity competition. The result and ultimate goal is to foster a continuous path for development and a supportive environment where students can discover and nurture their athletic passions.”