Charles 'Lefty' Driesell, a legendary figure in college basketball known for his vibrant personality and coaching prowess, has passed away at the age of 92. Driesell, who was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2018, left a lasting legacy across several institutions, notably at Maryland and James Madison University (JMU), where he compiled a 159-111 record and led the Dukes to the 1994 NCAA Tournament. His coaching career spanned over four decades, during which he accumulated a record of 786-394, leading all four of his programs to the NCAA Tournament. Driesell's impact extended beyond the court, contributing significantly to the integration of college basketball in the South. He passed away at his home in Virginia Beach this morning, leaving behind a storied career that included more than 100 victories at four NCAA Division I schools, a feat unmatched by any other coach. His death was announced by Maryland, and his loss is mourned by the college basketball community, former players, and fans alike.
Coach Lefty's passion and dedication to the sport were truly inspiring. A winner, a Hall of Famer, and absolutely one of a kind, he was beloved by fans everywhere. His passing is a tremendous loss for College Park, and his legacy will always be a part of Maryland's rich history.… https://t.co/A3WAprghj5
Lefty Driesell finished his career with 786 victories over five decades and was the first coach to win more than 100 games at four NCAA Division I schools. https://t.co/MTtva7I4sz
Hail to the Chief: A tribute to Lefty Driesell and all that he brought to college basketball. ⬇️ https://t.co/6rBBLWzFlk
Hall of Fame basketball coach 'Lefty' Driesell has died. He was 92 years old. https://t.co/onn7JOD2p6
Lefty Driesell, the coach whose folksy drawl belied a fiery on-court demeanor that put Maryland on the college basketball map and enabled him to rebuild several struggling programs, died Saturday. He was 92. https://t.co/PCYQQuFJlM
I met Coach Charles “Lefty” Driesell while attending his camp as a youngster. He was a hall of fame coach and a great motivator. Better than being a coach he was an unbelievable family man. Rest in peace Coach Driesell and now you are with the love of your life, Joyce. https://t.co/CiL5kKWbhz
Perspective by John Feinstein: Lefty Driesell was one of a kind, on and off the basketball court. https://t.co/ZvsB37SIjt
RIP Charles "Lefty" Driesell - 🏀 #Legend https://t.co/z98nUUEOrs
Before Lefty Driesell, Maryland was an unremarkable program that had one NCAA Tournament berth in its history. Lefty aimed high, and through his carnival-barking, wily recruiting and pure ambition made the Terps basketball worth talking about: https://t.co/hOUZtBfxQO
Lefty Driesell was a basketball legend and University of Maryland icon. He put the Terps on the map — and they never looked back. My thoughts are with Coach Driesell’s loved ones and the generations of players and fans he inspired throughout his career. You’ll be missed, Coach. https://t.co/x9nXhkTYAh
Lefty Driesell, folksy, fiery coach who put Maryland on college basketball’s map, has died https://t.co/tpFNba62eh
Former Maryland basketball coach Lefty Driesell, who died today, turned down the South Alabama job in 1987 because he thought he might be hired by the expansion Charlotte Hornets. USA hired Ronnie Arrow, who 2 years later led the Jaguars to an NCAA tournament upset of Alabama.
A moment of silence here in College Park for Lefty Driesell, who died this morning at 92. The PA asked for Terps fans to flash the “V” sign (for victory) Lefty was known for. https://t.co/PAXMI54wB3
I never met Lefty Driesell, but growing up in Maryland, I felt like I knew him. So many stories from high school coaches, very few had a bad thing to say about him. He set the standard for the Terps, and for hoops in the state in a lot of ways. 1/ 🧵
Love him or hate him, but Lefty Driesell was 100 percent REAL. Larger than life.
Sad to hear of #Lefty Driesell’s passing. Coach Driesell is one of the greatest basketball coaches the @NCAA has ever seen, and an even better man. I am lucky to have seen him in action during his time w/ @UofMaryland @TerrapinHoops. I am praying for his family during this time.
Special pod today to remember Lefty Driesell. Scott Van Pelt (@notthefakeSVP) jumped on to share his thoughts. #Terps @TerrapinHoops @theACC #ACCBasketball https://t.co/6lM01jkMRH
Man. He was Maryland 🏀 Legend RIP lefty 🙏 https://t.co/fwPpM4U9L0
Today, I join my fellow Terps and countless others across the country in mourning the loss of my friend Coach Charles 'Lefty' Driesell. We will always remember his tremendous wit, famous court-side temper, and unfailing persistence. My statement here: https://t.co/ajnD9VrqMf https://t.co/gkKAA4VPM7
Lefty Driesell, the Hall of Fame coach whose folksy drawl belied a fiery on-court demeanor that put Maryland on the college basketball map and enabled him to rebuild several struggling programs, died Saturday. https://t.co/OB9IVFDvKi
Lefty Driesell Dies: Basketball Hall Of Fame Coach Was 92 https://t.co/ruI24gOfHF
I had been thinking a LOT about Lefty Driesell recently...
Hall of Fame hoops coach Charles 'Lefty' Driesell dies at 92 https://t.co/3S2VNiR5ab
High on my list of great memories is March 11, 1984, when Lefty Driessel held court with a handful of sports writers underneath the stands of the Greensboro Coliseum. He had just won his first ACC Tournament. And he beat Duke to do it. Lefty was an American original. RIP.
North Carolina honoring former #JMU and Maryland coach Lefty Driesell before today’s game against the #Hokies. https://t.co/Lsc554dRp6
Lefty Driesell, the Hall of Fame coach whose folksy drawl belied a fiery on-court demeanor that put Maryland on the college basketball map and enabled him to rebuild several struggling programs, died Saturday. He was 92. https://t.co/c3nmjuuUbo
Longtime Maryland men's basketball coach Lefty Driesell dies at 92, school says https://t.co/l4sF2izBa2
Lefty was larger than life and brought such excitement to Md hoops. What great teams and times. I got to cover some of his teams at Md and JMU, an honor. Loved the battles with Dean. If he got Moses M, he wins a couple of nattys. RIP legend. https://t.co/pEjvp1sDI1
Lefty Driesell with the Double Nickel + 4 in 1954. Fresh out of Duke then. Just starting his coaching career at Granby HS, his alma mater. https://t.co/60wdaSf0Dc
Legendary former Maryland men's basketball coach Lefty Driesell dies at 92. Reflections of a hardwood life from me, @SethWEmerson and Jenna West. https://t.co/CaJ7Jdf2dr
Lefty Driesell didn’t make Maryland the UCLA of the East, but he put the Terps on the national map, kept them competitive in an ACC dominated by Tobacco Road, and was a great recruiter and personality: https://t.co/mOLrEHsEBo
Lefty Driesell is best remembered for his colorful showmanship that helped catapult #Maryland and the #ACC into the national spotlight. But he never fully got the respect he deserved, because as he once boasted in his trademark drawl: "Ah kin coach!" https://t.co/YhC6Ls7HLL
Lefty Driesell, the fiery coach who put Maryland on the college basketball map, died Saturday. He was 92. Driesell finished with 786 victories over parts of five decades and was the first coach to win more than 100 games at four NCAA Division I schools. https://t.co/WKmSs6DBKU
27 days ago we hosted an Ode to Lefty Chuck Driesell delivered an emotional speech about his father with a group of his former players behind him https://t.co/qbg76PrKzV
The college basketball world mourned and remembered Lefty Driesell, the iconic Maryland coach https://t.co/PrhNsRE6Wi https://t.co/vec2dhP0wP
'Lefty' Driesell, the Hall of Fame basketball coach whose fiery on-court demeanor put Maryland on the map, dies at the age of 92 https://t.co/5pKSr7nnGL https://t.co/tk6XAVAjx1
Charles Grice ‘Lefty’ Driesell, who has been called “the greatest program builder in the history of college basketball,” died in his home in Virginia Beach on Saturday, according to his grandson Ty Anderson. He was 92. https://t.co/uJ3d7i3MXX
Legendary coach Lefty Driesell dies at 92 https://t.co/ZyswOtK12M https://t.co/dLGXzt8Nl8
Longtime Maryland coach, Basketball Hall of Famer Lefty Driesell dies at 92 https://t.co/HGqgjC34FT
RIP to Lefty Driesell, and underrated great historic coach whose history at Maryland was one of a huge impact on large numbers of players and helping spark important social changes Plus he was hilarious. Rest easy to one of the greatest Terps ever https://t.co/ASYt2lQWes
The college basketball world is paying tribute to Maryland legend Lefty Driesell https://t.co/49tT4Uoub1
Lefty Driesell, basketball coach who put Maryland on the map, dies at 92 https://t.co/sOOmtVbV7m
I loved Lefty. RIP Coach. @umterps https://t.co/ptsKVskD5q
Forget Maryland, Davidson, James Madison. With death of Lefty Driesell, I recall flying back with him after his Georgia State team upset Wisconsin in Boise, Idaho in 2001 NCAA basketball tournament. He said that was his biggest tournament victory. @GeorgiaStateU @WSBTVsports https://t.co/H6DmLDW6nr
Saddened to hear the loss of former Maryland basketball coach Lefty Driesell. He was part of my childhood, growing up watching those teams with Tom McMillen, Len Elmore, John Lucas, Mo Howard and so many more. RIP.
Forget Maryland, Davidson and James Madison. With death of Lefty Driesell, I recall flying back with him after his Georgia State team upset Wisconsin in Boise, Idaho during 2001 NCAA basketball tournament. He said that was his biggest tournament coaching victory. https://t.co/qLXIuomuQS
Lefty Driesell, who won more than 500 games over 17 seasons at Maryland as part of his 41 years as a head coach, died Saturday at his home in Virginia Beach. He was 92. https://t.co/HqP3owH2x5
From 2017 @TheAthletic, the @DaveKindred on Lefty Driesell https://t.co/UKVAeNt7hL
As a student at Maryland, calling games for the college radio station, and then to cover him at JMU and beyond, Lefty was unlike any coach I’d ever met then or since. He treated a young college journalist the same as the professionals. He helped me tremendously. There will be a… https://t.co/P06lPbp1EY
The GameDay crew reflected on Charles “Lefty” Driesell's impact: https://t.co/BIciIGQMRw
Lefty is MD basketball. RIP https://t.co/QbZ5ZMQ9A8
Just In: Lefty Driesell, who put Maryland on the college basketball map, died Saturday. He was 92. He was the first coach to win more than 100 games at four NCAA Division I schools. https://t.co/yXeu0vuB66
Legendary Maryland basketball coach Charles “Lefty” Driesell died Saturday morning at age 92, the school announced. Driesell amassed a 786-394 career coaching record and led all four of his programs to the NCAA Tournament. https://t.co/scr7cyabAU
Maryland announced Driesell’s death. His grandson, Ty Anderson, told The Washington Post that Driesell died at his home in Virginia Beach. https://t.co/iZhobnLsDk https://t.co/Dnt8ge6YeX
Lefty Driesell, folksy, fiery coach who put Maryland on college basketball’s map, dies at 92 https://t.co/I1THZCjMWb
SPORTS ALERT: Hall of Fame basketball coach Lefty Driesell, who led Maryland and James Madison's programs to regular season and conference titles, died at 92. https://t.co/NaTMqlxatu
Charles ‘Lefty’ Driesell, the Hall of Fame Maryland men’s basketball coach who built the program into a consistent competitor, died on Saturday morning at 92 years old https://t.co/f6UsnEOF6g
Truly one of a kind. A legend in the ACC before Maryland made the mistake of leaving that conference. RIP, Lefty. https://t.co/SxEQcUduhF
Just weeks shy of the 50th anniversary of the greatest game in college basketball history, in which Lefty coached. That game changed college basketball and so did Lefty Driesell. https://t.co/zthXnWEGwn
For a young student Lefty Driesell and Len Bias were larger than life. One was a great coach & character while Lenny was a force of nature. It was an incredible time. Their final season together represents some of my fondest and ultimately saddest memories of college. RIP https://t.co/GpJmhE7KhH
Hall of Fame college basketball coach Lefty Driesell dead at 92 https://t.co/WxAJj5vBiX https://t.co/n6ZELgHrlB
Just weeks shy of the 50th anniversary of the greatest game in college basketball history, when Lefty’s Maryland team lost to N.C. State in overtime for the ACC title. That game changed college basketball and so did Lefty Driesell. https://t.co/zthXnWEGwn
Just weeks shy of the 50th anniversary of the greatest game in college basketball history, when Lefty’s Maryland team lost to N.C. State in overtime for the ACC title. That game changed college basketball and so did Left Driesell. https://t.co/zthXnWEGwn
The former legendary Maryland coach Lefty Driesell has passed away. https://t.co/onOa3tNmnz
Would be appropriate for @TerrapinHoops to break out the 1970s throwbacks today to honor Lefty Driesell.
A Maryland icon. A college basketball legend. We mourn the passing of the one and only Lefty Driesell More: https://t.co/uIZdljbUTt https://t.co/r5F8R8suS2
Rick Snider’s Washington says goodbye to his favorite coach - Lefty Driesell. Gimme two minutes. https://t.co/JaLrByZpvs
Rest in peace to former @DukeMBB player Lefty Driesell and a legend of the sport who invited "Midnight Madness". https://t.co/BtpFxyyLMo
RIP to the incomparable Lefty Driesell https://t.co/q2mz4BaoEf
Charles “Lefty” Driesell has passed. The personable coach was a tremendous guy and an ACC institution. He took four different programs to the NCAA Tourney. God Bless him and his family. 🙏🏻
Don’t forget the impact Lefty had on the integration of college basketball in the South. ✊🏽 Lefty Driesell, coach who built Maryland into college basketball power, dies at 92 https://t.co/ZP2uV4fqs0
Former JMU and Maryland coach Lefty Driesell, a 2018 Naismith Hall of Fame inductee, has died at 92. Driesell coached JMU from 1988-97, going 159-111 and leading the Dukes to the 1994 NCAA tournament. https://t.co/bM5OxEC1YJ
Saturdays watching ACC doubleheaders on the C.D. Chesley Network (I can still hear the "Sail with the Pilot" commercial theme) and seeing Maryland head coach Lefty Driesell stalking the sidelines and the strains of "Amen" after another Terps win was heaven. RIP Lefty.
RIP Lefty. Growing up in Baltimore during his heyday, it was so much fun to cheer for him and his teams. https://t.co/AqqAsulMOz
Former Maryland and JMU coach Lefty Driesell was one the most colorful personalities in college basketball. RIP https://t.co/CkZKEp9g3Z
RIP Lefty Driesell. I loved the guy, you know, I don't know.
word out of d.c. is that Maryland Naismith HOF coach Lefty Driesell has passed at age 92. an American original who was big part of ACC folklore he will be missed.
RIP, Lefty. An all-time character and superb coach who put Maryland hoops on the national map. https://t.co/8iZCl66v9p
I am deeply saddened to share that Coach Lefty Driesell passed away this morning. He was a legend both on and off the court and instrumental in my life. I am grateful that we shared some time together a couple weeks ago. We will miss him dearly.
RIP to the legendary Terps basketball coach Lefty Driesell, who died this morning, according to one of his best players. https://t.co/veZmYnhJAo