Media Advisory: Maryland to Honor Lefty Driesell

Legendary Coach will have bronze bas-relief dedicated at Comcast Center 

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The University of Maryland athletics department will honor legendary basketball coach Charles “Lefty” Driesell with a bronze bas-relief dedication ceremony on Tuesday, April 16 at Comcast Center. The reception will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the program starting at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Driesell will be joined by Maryland greats Tom McMillen and Len Elmore.

Driesell became Maryland’s head coach in 1969, coached the Terrapins for 17 seasons and won 348 games.

Prior to his arrival, the Terrapins had won only one Atlantic Coast Conference title and made just one NCAA Tournament appearance. Under Driesell’s leadership, the Terrapins won another ACC title and made the NCAA Tournament eight times, including two Elite 8 appearances.

Driesell, who coached at Davidson prior to coming to Maryland and went on to stints at James Madison and Georgia State, compiled a 786-394 record in his 40-plus years as a head coach. He was the originator of “Midnight Madness” to open practice at the beginning of the season in 1971.

He is a member of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame and the University of Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame.

- Terps -

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland athletics department welcomed back legendary basketball coach Charles “Lefty” Driesell on Saturday as the Terps hosted the Clemson Tigers.

Driesell, who became Maryland’s head coach in 1969, coached the Terrapins for 17 seasons. During his tenure, he won 348 games, including 28 over Duke and North Carolina.

Prior to his arrival, the Terrapins had won only one Atlantic Coast Conference title and made just one NCAA Tournament appearance. Under Driesell’s leadership, the Terrapins won another ACC title and made the NCAA Tournament eight times, inclduing two Elite 8 appearances.

During halftime of Saturday’s game versus Clemson, Driesell was honored at center court and received a standing ovation from the raucous crowd.

“It’s a pleasure to be back here,” said Driesell. “I coached here for 17 years and I always love coming back to UMD. It’s such an honor to be recognized, but it’s also a great honor for my teams and my players.”

Driesell, who coached at Davidson prior to coming to Maryland and went on to stints at James Madison and Georgia State, compiled a 786-394 record in his 40-plus years as a head coach. He was the originator of “Midnight Madness” to open practice at the beginning of the season in 1971.

He is a member of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame and the University of Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame.

In addition to Saturday’s halftime ceremony, Maryland will dedicate and unveil a bronze bas-relief of the storied coach on April 16, 2013.

Maryland (18-8, 6-7 ACC) vs. Clemson (13-12, 5-8 ACC)
Saturday, February 23, 2013 • Noon ET

Game #27 • Home Game #18 • College Park, Md. • Comcast Center
TV: ESPN2 – Carter Blackburn (Play-by-Play) & Jay Williams (Analyst)
Radio: Terrapin Sports Radio Network – Johnny Holliday (Play-by-Play), Chris Knoche (Analyst) & Walt Williams (Sidelines)

Storyline

• Maryland plays its penultimate home game of the 2012-13 season when it takes on Clemson Saturday at noon. After playing the Tigers, the Terps play three of their last four on the road, with the home finale coming on March 6 vs. North Carolina. 

• Legendary coach Charles “Lefty” Driesell will be honored at halftime of Saturday’s game. Driesell became Maryland’s head coach for the 1969-70 season, when the Terrapins had won only one Atlantic Coast Conference title and had made just once NCAA Tournament appearance. In his 17 seasons at Maryland, Driesell compiled a 348-159 record, won one ACC title and led the Terps to eight NCAA Tournament appearances. 

• Maryland is 18-8 and 6-7 in the ACC after a 69-58 setback at Boston College on Tuesday. Logan Aronhalt poured in a season-high 26 points – the most by a Terp this season – but was the only Maryland player to reach double figures. The Terps led 33-26 at halftime and 50-49 with 5:14 to play, but the Eagles used a 12-0 run over the next 3:19 to take control. 

• The Terps have been at their best inside Comcast Center, where they own a 15-2 record which includes an upset over then second-ranked Duke last Saturday. In home games, Maryland has shot 50.7 percent from the field while holding opponents to a .366 mark, and the Terps have outscored opponents by an average margin of 14.2 points at home. 

• Maryland had a streak of seven straight games shooting at least 40 percent snapped at Boston College, when it hit just 35.7 percent. Still, the Terps rank third in the conference in field goal percentage at .471, behind just NC State (.497) and Duke (.472). Maryland also ranks first in the league and eighth nationally in field goal percentage defense, having held opponents to a .373 mark this season.

Driesell to be Honored

• The University of Maryland athletics department will dedicate a bronze bas-relief of Charles “Lefty” Driesell in a ceremony at Comcast Center on April 16, 2013. He is also being honored during halftime of Saturday’s game. Driesell, who coached at Davidson prior to coming to Maryland and went on to stints at James Madison and Georgia State, compiled a 786-394 record in his 40-plus years as a head coach. He was the originator of “Midnight Madness” to open practice at the beginning of the season in 1971. He is a member of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame and the University of Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame. Maryland-Clemson Series History

• The Terps own the upper hand in the all-time series with Clemson, leading 89-49 since the series began in 1938. Maryland is 52-11 at home vs. the Tigers, including a 5-2 mark at Comcast Center.

• The Terps have won three straight in the series. Last year, Maryland won 64-62 at Clemson.

Former coach will have bronze bas-relief dedicated at Comcast Center

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The University of Maryland athletics department will dedicate a bronze bas-relief of legendary basketball coach Charles “Lefty” Driesell in Comcast Center on April 16, 2013, director of athletics Kevin Anderson announced Tuesday.

Driesell became Maryland’s head coach for the 1969-70 season with a promise for new excitement and to turn things around. Prior to his arrival, the Terrapins had won only one Atlantic Coast Conference title and made just once NCAA Tournament appearance.

In his 17 seasons at Maryland, Driesell compiled a 348-159 record, won one ACC title and led the Terps to eight NCAA Tournament appearances.

In addition to the bas-relief that will be unveiled on April 16, Driesell will be honored at Maryland’s home game vs. Clemson on Saturday, Feb. 23 at noon.

“Lefty is a legendary coach and we are happy to recognize him on this special day,” said Anderson. “It will be exciting for our longtime fans to celebrate Lefty’s return to the university and we look forward to the dedication of his Bas-relief in April.”

“Lefty did a great job establishing a tradition for Maryland basketball,” said men’s basketball coach Mark Turgeon. “I know our alumni, former players, and our team is excited to have Lefty back on campus. It will be a great day for everyone involved with Maryland basketball.”

Driesell, who coached at Davidson prior to coming to Maryland and went on to stints at James Madison and Georgia State, compiled a 786-394 record in his 40-plus years as a head coach. He was the originator of “Midnight Madness” to open practice at the beginning of the season in 1971.

He is a member of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, the University of Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame, and is a nominee for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.