Lefty Driesell, the legendary faculty basketball coach who constructed Maryland right into a prime program, has died at age 92.
“Lefty Driesell was a standout determine in faculty basketball and the person who put Maryland basketball on the map,” Maryland athletic director Damon Evans stated. “As a Corridor of Famer, Lefty was an innovator. From teaching on the sector to advertising and marketing off the sector, he was forward of his time. From beginning “Midnight Insanity” to enjoying nationally televised video games in sell-out crowds at Cole Area, the lefty did all of it. He led the College of Maryland to a championship NIT Championship, eight NCAA Championships, a number of ACC Championships, and constantly ranked within the prime 10 throughout his tenure, producing quite a few NBA gamers. We’re deeply saddened to listen to of his passing and specific our condolences. Condolences to the complete household and circle of associates. His reminiscence will without end be etched in Maryland basketball historical past.”
Driesell started his faculty teaching profession at Davidson College, the place he led the Wildcats to 5 Southern Convention regular-season championships and three NCAA match appearances.
Driesell was employed by Maryland in 1969 and over 17 seasons he constructed this system right into a program that gained an NIT championship (1972), two ACC common season championships, three Candy 16s and an Elite look Prime eight tasks.
Throughout his tenure with the Terrapins, Driesell helped develop star gamers similar to Len Bias, Tom McMillan, Len Elmore, Buck Williams and John Lucas.
It’s with nice unhappiness that I share that Coach Driesell, a lefty, handed away this morning. He was a legend on and off the court docket and performed an enormous position in my life. I’m grateful that we spent a while collectively just a few weeks in the past. We are going to miss him enormously.
— Tom McMillen (@TomMcMillen611) February 17, 2024
Certainly one of Driesell’s lasting legacies in faculty basketball is beginning the custom of Midnight Insanity, an annual public apply opener that has develop into a significant occasion on the faculty.
When this custom began, there was little loopy happening.
From a 2014 report in Sports activities Illustrated:
Do you know that Midnight Insanity begins with a midnight run?
That is actual. Occurred on October 15, 1971. College of Maryland Byrd Stadium, School Park. At three minutes previous midnight (to ensure they did not begin too early and violate NCAA guidelines), members of the college’s basketball group started their obligatory one-mile run on the monitor. The stadium lights have been out and the one illumination got here from the headlights of some vehicles parked at one finish of the stadium. The coaching was not public, however about 800 college students gathered to observe. Apparently, phrase of mouth has unfold.
Driesell’s tenure at School Park, Maryland, resulted in 1986 with 348 wins, second solely to Gary Williams (461) in class historical past. He left Maryland just a few months after Bias’ demise and returned to teach James Madison two years later.
In 9 years at James Madison, Driesell added 159 wins to his complete and led the Dukes to 5 consecutive Colonial Athletic Affiliation championships, 4 Participated in NIT video games and an NCAA match.
Driesell final coached at Georgia State, the place he gained 4 Atlantic Solar Convention regular-season championships and a match championship. In 2003, he retired because the fourth-winningest NCAA Division I males’s basketball coach. He’s the one coach to win a minimum of 100 video games at 4 completely different faculties.
“Lefty is the last word program builder. He did it at 4 faculties,” McMillon, a former NBA participant who later turned a member of the U.S. Home of Representatives, stated through the Baltimore Solar. “He with [the late North Carolina coach] Dean Smith is comparable. Each have been pushed and nice thinkers. Lefty took a sleepy program and positioned it on the map. He helped create an aura for Maryland. “
Driesell can be a member of the School Basketball Corridor of Fame (2007) and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Fame (2018).