Megan Griffith Suspended 3 Games, Eligible to Return for Columbia vs. Michigan Nov. 12

Photo: Columbia Athletics. Columbia coach Megan Griffith.

Columbia suspended women's basketball coach Megan Griffith for the first three games of the 2026-27 season on Thursday after an external review of her coaching behavior in practices. She will miss the Nov. 2 opener against Davidson and two games in Nashville against Rhode Island and Belmont, which makes the Nov. 12 home game against Michigan her first night back on the bench.

The university said the review began after a complaint about Griffith's conduct during practices in a previous season. Columbia said the findings did not require notice to the NCAA of any rules violation and did not involve allegations under its anti-discrimination, Title IX or related policies. Griffith said she takes "complete responsibility for everything that happens in the program, including the times my conduct fell short."

The coach being suspended

Griffith has gone 171-99 across 11 seasons at Columbia, per the AP. She is the winningest coach in school history and a three-time Ivy League Coach of the Year. Under her, the Lions earned two NCAA Tournament at-large bids, won the first NCAA Tournament game in program history, and won three Ivy regular-season titles from 2022 to 2025.

Columbia won the 2026 WBIT last spring, beating No. 1 seed BYU 81-64 in the title game in Wichita, with Riley Weiss scoring 20 points and taking Most Outstanding Player. The Lions won five games in the tournament: St. John's 74-26, North Dakota State 86-57, Cal 74-68, Wisconsin 67-50 and BYU in the final.

The three games she misses

Davidson opens the season at Levien Gymnasium on Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. Then the Lions play two games in Nashville, the first under a new scheduling alliance between the Ivy League, the American, the Atlantic 10 and the Missouri Valley. Columbia plays Rhode Island, the reigning Atlantic 10 champion, on Nov. 6, and plays at Belmont, a 20-win Missouri Valley team a year ago and the 2025 WBIT runner-up, on Nov. 8.

The AP report did not say who will coach the team during the suspension.

Michigan, then Maryland, then Duke

Columbia's own release called the 2026-27 non-conference slate the most challenging in program history, with twelve 20-win opponents. Michigan finished last season No. 7 in the AP poll and reached the Elite Eight. Columbia goes to College Park to play Maryland for the first time on Nov. 15. Duke, ranked No. 5 in the final AP poll and also an Elite Eight team, visits on Nov. 21.

Griffith is eligible to return on Thursday, Nov. 12, when Michigan visits Morningside Heights at 7 p.m.

Sources

• AP via ABC News: Columbia suspends coach Megan Griffith for 3 games after review of coaching behavior. Doug Feinberg, Oct. 15, 2026. First three games, external-firm review, complaint about practice conduct from a previous season, Nov. 2 Davidson plus Nashville games vs. Rhode Island and Belmont, no NCAA notice and no anti-discrimination or Title IX allegations, Griffith statement, 171-99 in 11 seasons, winningest coach in school history, three-time Ivy Coach of the Year, two at-large bids, first NCAA Tournament win in school history, three Ivy regular-season titles 2022-25.
• Columbia Athletics: Women's Basketball Reveals the Most Challenging Schedule in Program History. Sept. 8, 2026. Twelve 20-win non-conference opponents, Michigan Nov. 12 at 7 p.m., Duke Nov. 21, Maryland Nov. 15 first meeting, Duke No. 5 and Michigan No. 7 in final AP poll and both Elite Eight teams, Nashville games Nov. 6 vs. reigning A-10 champion Rhode Island and Nov. 8 at Belmont, Belmont 20-win MVC team and 2025 WBIT runner-up, Ivy/American/A-10/MVC scheduling alliance.
• Columbia Athletics: 2026-27 Women's Basketball Schedule. Nov. 2 Davidson at 11 a.m., Nov. 6 Rhode Island, Nov. 8 at Belmont, Nov. 12 Michigan.
• NCAA.com: Columbia wins the 2026 WBIT. Columbia 81, BYU 64 in the final in Wichita. Riley Weiss 20 points, Most Outstanding Player. Columbia 74-26 over St. John's, 86-57 over North Dakota State, 74-68 over Cal, 67-50 over Wisconsin.