What happened to Lefty Driesell?

Lefty Driesell, the iconic figure in college basketball coaching who elevated Maryland into a powerhouse program, has passed away at the age of 92.

Driesell commenced his collegiate coaching journey at Davidson, where he steered the Wildcats to five Southern Conference regular-season championships and three NCAA tournament berths.

In 1969, Driesell embarked on a transformative chapter when he was appointed as the head coach of Maryland. Over the course of 17 seasons, he masterfully cultivated the Terrapins into a formidable force, achieving notable milestones such as capturing the NIT title in 1972, securing two ACC regular-season championships, making three Sweet 16 appearances, and reaching the Elite Eight.

During his illustrious tenure with the Terrapins, Driesell played a pivotal role in nurturing the talents of star players including Len Bias, Tom McMillen, Len Elmore, Buck Williams, and John Lucas, among numerous others.

Driesell bid farewell to College Park in 1986 following a remarkable 348 wins, a record surpassed only by Gary Williams (461) in school history. His departure coincided with the tragic passing of Len Bias, prompting Driesell to step away briefly before resuming coaching duties at James Madison University two years later.

During his nine-year stint at James Madison, Driesell added 159 more victories to his illustrious coaching resume. Under his guidance, the Dukes clinched five consecutive Colonial Athletic Association titles, made four appearances in the NIT, and earned one NCAA tournament berth.

Driesell’s coaching odyssey concluded at Georgia State, where he guided the team to four Atlantic Sun Conference regular-season titles and one tournament championship. His retirement in 2003 marked the culmination of a remarkable career, cementing his status as the fourth-winningest NCAA Division I men’s basketball coach in history. Notably, Driesell remains the sole coach to achieve the feat of winning at least 100 games with four different schools.