Christina Griffin

Christina Griffin is a sports professional and Residential Mentor & Character Coach at IMG Academy. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Sports Management from the University of Arizona, where she built a strong foundation in sports media, communications, and athlete engagement. Her early career was rooted in sports broadcasting and athletics media, where she worked with Arizona Football in creative media and recruiting support, while also contributing to student-athlete development programs. In addition, she served as a social media manager for academic and athletic support departments and took on mentorship responsibilities for fellow student employees, helping guide and support their professional growth.

Her journey into student-athlete development evolved from her passion for sports media and storytelling. While completing her time at the University of Arizona, a sports psychologist mentor encouraged her to apply to IMG Academy, noting that the role would combine her experience in media, mentorship, and athlete engagement while expanding into direct work with adolescents. Although she was experiencing burnout from intensive social media responsibilities, she embraced the opportunity and transitioned into IMG Academy. Today, she works the afternoon residential shift from approximately 2:45 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., living in the dorms and supporting 96 student-athletes. She oversees a residential wing of 48 female student-athletes, working collaboratively with her team to maintain structure, accountability, and a unified residential culture in a high-performance boarding school environment.

Now approaching nearly two years at IMG Academy, Christina has found her true calling in athlete personal development and residential mentorship. She describes her daily life as fast-paced, unpredictable, and deeply relational, supporting student-athletes with everything from pre-competition preparation and emotional support to academic accountability, conflict resolution, and everyday life needs within the dorms. Her role often extends beyond traditional mentorship, serving as a consistent presence in students’ lives as they navigate both athletic and personal challenges. As her first cohort of seniors prepares to graduate, students who were sophomores when she began, she reflects on the lasting impact of her work and the responsibility of serving as a role model. These moments of connection, growth, and transition continue to reinforce her commitment to student-athlete development and the meaningful influence of mentorship in shaping young lives.