Lefty Driesell

Charles Grice "Lefty" Driesell (born December 25, 1931) is a retired American college basketball coach. He was the first coach to win more than 100 games at four different NCAA Division I schools, Driesell led the programs of Davidson College, the University of Maryland, James Madison University, and Georgia State University. He earned a reputation as "the greatest program builder in the history of basketball."[1] At the time of his retirement in 2003, he was the fourth-winningest NCAA Division I men's basketball college coach,[2] with 21 seasons of 20 or more wins, and 21 conference or conference tournament titles. Driesell played college basketball at Duke University.

Driesell was born on December 25, 1931 in Norfolk, Virginia to Frank Driesell, a jeweler who had emigrated from Germany.[3][4] In the fourth grade, Driesell received the nickname "Lefty" for his left handedness.[5] He attended Granby High School and quickly became a star on the basketball team. Driesell earned the city's most outstanding player trophy and All-State recognition while leading Granby to the Virginia State Basketball Championship. He was named tournament MVP, totaling 59 points in three games. After graduating high school in 1950 Driesell received a full scholarship to attend Duke University,[3] where he played center on the basketball team under head coach Harold Bradley.[6] Driesell graduated with a bachelor's degree in education in 1954.[3]

After college in 1954, Driesell took an office job with Ford Motor Company. Driesell also found time to renew his playing career by joining the Virginia semi-pro ranks, where he once scored 59 points in a single game and earned a tryout with the then Minneapolis Lakers (later Los Angeles Lakers) of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was also given a chance to enter the coaching profession when his prep alma mater offered him its junior varsity position for both football and basketball. After convincing his wife he could offset a significant pay cut by also selling World Book Encyclopedias part-time, he accepted the job and produced back-to-back unbeaten football teams and a city basketball champion in his first two years.[1]

Driesell was promoted to varsity basketball coach in 1957, going 15–5 before moving to traditional in-state basketball power Newport News High School. There he inherited a team in the midst of a winning streak that he would build to a still-standing state record 57 straight.[7] That unbeaten team won the Virginia Group I State Championship, besting his old Granby squad with four of his former starters. His combined varsity record at the two schools was 97–15.[8]

Driesell served as the head coach at Davidson from 1960 to 1969. During his tenure his teams won three Southern Conference tournaments and five regular season championships,[9] earning him the Southern Conference Sportswriters Association Coach of the Year award four years running from 1963 to 1966.[10] An excellent recruiter at each of his collegiate coaching stops,[11] Driesell landed Dick Snyder, a first round selection by the St. Louis Hawks.[12] He cinched his wooing of college prospect Don Davidson by telling him "I'll put your name on the front [of your jersey]".[11] When legendary NC State head coach Everett Case attempted to lure Driesell with an assistant position offer Lefty replied, "Coach, I got a better team than you got. Why would I do that?"[11]

Driesell at Davidson in 1963.
Driesell gives his trademark "V-sign" during his first season at Maryland.