Griff Aldrich spent roughly two decades building a successful career in law and private equity. Then, he blew it all up for a chance to coach college basketball.
Now, Aldrich is gearing up for March Madness, as the 47-year-old coach leads the Longwood University Lancers to the NCAA's "Big Dance" for the school's first time ever.
In 2016, Aldrich was in the midst of a lucrative career. After being a partner at>A decades-long career crossroads
Aldrich's coaching career almost began nearly two decades earlier. In college, he and Odom played Division-III basketball for Hampden-Sydney College in Hampden Sydney, Virginia. And Odom's father, Dave Odom, was the head coach of Wake Forest's basketball team.
After graduating in 1996, Aldrich was set to join his friend as an assistant on Wake Forest's coaching staff. But when the elder Odom found out Aldrich had been accepted to the University of Virginia's prestigious law school, he told the young man to get his law degree instead.
After law school, Aldrich returned to Hampden-Sydney as an assistant coach for one season, during which the small school went undefeated. Soon, he faced a crossroads: Should he keep pursuing his dream of coaching or take a job at highly regarded law firm Vinson & Elkins, which would help pay off his student loans?
