Lefty Driesell died yesterday at 92 in VA Beach. Was in serious negotiations with ODU one year. A local home builder whose name I forget offered to build him a home in VB. Given that he's the only coach in NCAA history to win 100 games at 4 different schools, just think of what might have been had he come home.
Sent from my SM-G986U using
CSNbbs mobile app
(02-17-2024 09:53 AM)bench jockey Wrote: [ -> ]Lefty Driesell died yesterday at 92 in VA Beach. Was in serious negotiations with ODU one year. A local home builder whose name I forget offered to build him a home in VB. Given that he's the only coach in NCAA history to win 100 games at 4 different schools, just think of what might have been had he come home.
Sent from my SM-G986U using CSNbbs mobile app
I ran into Lefty at the Ted many years ago. Was incredibly nice and engaging. RIP, Coach.
One of my favorite Lefty stories. UVA coach Terry Holland told a story about being recruited by Left. Holland said that Lefty would sell encyclopedias during the summers to earn extra money. While visiting Holland on a recruiting visit, Lefty let Holland take his car to a dance. Holland said that we he returned, not only was he going to Davidson to play for Lefty, but he also owned a new set of encyclopedias.
RIP Lefty. He was a legend. Enjoyed him being around the Ted. We gave him a lot of grief when he coached JMU.
(02-17-2024 10:13 AM)monarx Wrote: [ -> ]RIP Lefty. He was a legend. Enjoyed him being around the Ted. We gave him a lot of grief when he coached JMU.
Lefty attended a lot of games at the Ted in his later years. Our season tickets were very close to his. He was a big dude back in the day. It was always great seeing him at our games.
Hate to see the news of Lefty passing away, but father time gets all of us eventually. I had hoped that ODU would sign him after his issue with Len Bias at MD. He made an impact during his time at JMU and ODU had some epic battles with them during his tenure there. Who will ever forget the Kuluko basket to win at the buzzer for the Dukes against ODU (see below)?
I enjoyed seeing him at the ODU games and his spirit will be missed. College basketball has lost one of its all-time greats. RIP Lefty.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWoVKFdDOR8
Will never forget how he used to slap his foot on the floor when he was upset with the refs. Leather-soled dress shoes make a unique sound in an arena. I always thought it was a clever way of voicing displeasure.
Several years ago when I was an officer in the Suffolk Sports Club Lefty came to speak one night and I was lucky enough to be able to sit by him. He was in rare form that night and had everyone in stiches. He was a student at Granby High when my mother and her sisters were students and I mentioned her last name and he right away called out her first name. After all those years he could still remember the little things. Great coach and man. One story he told was about recruiting Patrick Ewing and about how all the coaches that couldn't sign him said he didn't have the grades to get into their school. He just laughed about that because he said Patrick Ewing could have gone anywhere he wanted to.
(02-17-2024 01:19 PM)elon77 Wrote: [ -> ]Several years ago when I was an officer in the Suffolk Sports Club Lefty came to speak one night and I was lucky enough to be able to sit by him. He was in rare form that night and had everyone in stiches. He was a student at Granby High when my mother and her sisters were students and I mentioned her last name and he right away called out her first name. After all those years he could still remember the little things. Great coach and man. One story he told was about recruiting Patrick Ewing and about how all the coaches that couldn't sign him said he didn't have the grades to get into their school. He just laughed about that because he said Patrick Ewing could have gone anywhere he wanted to.
Lefty recruited Joel Copeland hard out of high school. Thankfully Sonny Allen won that battle. Lefty also had Wilson Washington for one semester at UM before he left for ODU. Our basketball history would have changed dramatically if WW hadn’t transferred in.
Remember his stint at Georgia State. He was always a sharp dresser but he kind of stumbled with his Nehru suit.
Don't think he wore it to often.
And we did nothing to honor a Norfolk native on the night one of his teams was in town…Not even a moment of silence… Smh….
(02-17-2024 03:13 PM)mac Wrote: [ -> ]A all time great .
In his day, I believe Lefty was when of the best recruiters in the game. His patience and determination on convincing players to come to his college was remarkable. I remember the time that Jim D. watched for six weeks to see if Dr. Jarrett would take him as the head coach, at ODU. Unfortunately, Jarrett chooses Tom Young, as he was in the final four with Rutgers at one time. Probably Jarrett biggest mistake was in choosing, his new coach at the time. There are many stories on Lefty, as to how determine he was in convincing a player to come to Maryland. A coach who would do everything possible to sign a player. RIP, Lefty.
(02-18-2024 05:38 AM)bluelight Wrote: [ -> ] (02-17-2024 03:13 PM)mac Wrote: [ -> ]A all time great .
In his day, I believe Lefty was when of the best recruiters in the game. His patience and determination on convincing players to come to his college was remarkable. I remember the time that Jim D. watched for six weeks to see if Dr. Jarrett would take him as the head coach, at ODU. Unfortunately, Jarrett chooses Tom Young, as he was in the final four with Rutgers at one time. Probably Jarrett biggest mistake was in choosing, his new coach at the time. There are many stories on Lefty, as to how determine he was in convincing a player to come to Maryland. A coach who would do everything possible to sign a player. RIP, Lefty.
(02-17-2024 11:48 PM)Big4Blue Wrote: [ -> ]And we did nothing to honor a Norfolk native on the night one of his teams was in town…Not even a moment of silence… Smh….
Wow. Yeah, that was a big missed opportunity. Shame.
(02-19-2024 09:29 AM)monarx Wrote: [ -> ] (02-17-2024 11:48 PM)Big4Blue Wrote: [ -> ]And we did nothing to honor a Norfolk native on the night one of his teams was in town…Not even a moment of silence… Smh….
Wow. Yeah, that was a big missed opportunity. Shame.
Another shame of ODU promotions!