Wearing a beige suit and a deep red tie, Chuck Driesell walked to the press conference table and sat behind a microphone. But more importantly, he sat down next to Gary Williams.
All of a sudden, the two most notable last names in Terrapin men’s basketball history were joined together as Williams announced the hiring of Driesell as his newest assistant coach Friday.
The name Driesell hearkens back to the career of Chuck’s father, Charles “Lefty” Driesell. Lefty won 348 games and an NIT championship at the helm for the Terps.
Chuck Driesell, who played under his father for the Terps from 1981-85, said he shares a lifelong connection to the university.
“I grew up [with] Maryland basketball,” Driesell said. “I was a ball boy here and water boy, then I came and played here. It’s a bit undescribable the connection I have to this place.”
For the past two seasons, Driesell had been the coach at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, Va. Before that, he worked as an assistant under Craig Esherick at Georgetown University.
Driesell replaces Rob Moxley, who accepted the associate head coaching position at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in early May. Moxley, who is recognized as a premier recruiter, had only been a Terp assistant for one season and was the fourth coach to leave Williams’ staff in the last two years, but was the first to depart without a head coaching job.
Two years ago, Jimmy Patsos took over at Loyola and last season Mike Lonergan and Dave Dickerson left for Vermont and Tulane, respectively.
Even though Williams said he wanted his assistants to shoot for top positions, Driesell stressed loyalty as one of the top elements he brought to the job. When asked what enticed him to take the position, Driesell said he was indebted to Williams for giving him the chance.
“It just doesn’t happen that often in my profession. Enticed? No, this is a dream come true,” Driesell said. “Coach Williams and I have a relationship. – [I’ll do] whatever he needs for me to do to help him have a successful program.”
With the departures of Patsos, Lonergan and Dickerson, Williams has been a part of the interview process several times in the past two years. But the process was one of the things that made Driesell a candidate in the search for Moxley’s replacement.
“I’ve known Chuck a long time. I interviewed him extensively last year before we made a hire, and so I felt very comfortable in talking with Chuck this year,” Williams said. “I think he’s going to be a great addition to the staff.”
Williams will be in his 18th year with the Terps when next season starts, but his staff has far less experience. Along with Driesell, Michael Adams and Keith Booth boast a combined three years of Terp coaching experience.
Driesell got his start in coaching as head coach at the Naval Academy Prep School in Newport, R.I., after graduating from this university with a business degree in 1985. In 1988, he rejoined Lefty at James Madison. Chuck assisted his father for nine seasons before his first collegiate head coaching job at Division III Marymount University in Arlington, Va.
During his six seasons there, Driesell recorded an 88-72 record and guided Marymount to its first NCAA tournament appearance in 2000.
Throughout that career, the former Terp shooting guard said he had hoped to return to his alma mater. Driesell called it the result of 22 years of hard work.
“[Returning is] professionally a goal and personally a dream,” he said. “I can’t tell you how many times I would watch Maryland play and the great games that they’ve had and will continue to have, to just dream about being a part of that.”
With Driesell’s connection to the program through Lefty, Williams emphasized the hire was not made because of bloodlines. In 41 years, Lefty won 786 games and retired as the No. 4 all-time winningest college coach.
“The genes don’t hurt,” Williams said. “But I wouldn’t hire somebody just because he’s somebody’s son if I didn’t think he is a very good basketball coach.”
Contact reporter Stephen Whyno at whynodbk@gmail.com.
