Legendary Maryland men’s basketball coach Charles “Lefty” Driesell, who was known for his fiery on-court persona that helped lift the Terrapins in the national spotlight, has passed away at the age of 92.
His passing, which occurred at his home in Virginia Beach, was confirmed by the university.
Driesell, who spent the 1969-86 seasons on the Maryland baseline, finished his impressive stint with 348 wins.
During his time as coach, he helped turn around the struggling Maryland basketball team, leading them to eight NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament appearances. The Terrapins also won the 1972 NIT Championship and 1984 ACC Tournament championship under Driesell’s guidance.
The university’s athletic director, Damon Evans, described Driesell as a “transcendent figure” and credited him with putting Maryland basketball on the map.
Despite an abrupt departure from coaching in 1986, Driesell’s contributions to the game were recognized when he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.
His son Chuck played for his father at Maryland from 1981 to 85, and later became an assistant coach under his dad at James Madison.
Prior to coaching, Driesell was a standout basketball player in the early 1950s at Duke. He is survived by four children.
