Chuck Driesell returns to the Terp bench 20 years after his father’s departure after what he called 22 years of hard work to get back to his alma mater.
Chuck Driesell, son of legendary Terp coach Charles “Lefty”Driesell, was named as a Terrapin men’s basketball assistantcoach, Gary Williams announced today.Driesell was the coach at Bishop Ireton High School inAlexandria, Va. for the past two seasons after working as anassistant coach at Georgetown under Craig Esherick in 2003-04.
Driesell fills the vacant spot on Williams’ staff left byRob Moxley, who accepted the associate head coachingposition University of North Carolina at Charlotte in May.Driesell played for his father from 1981-85 and spoke withpride about his return to the Terps.
Four assistant coaches have left the Terps’ bench in thepast two years. With that turnover, Driesell said he broughtloyalty to the position that he’s been shooting for duringhis 16 years in coaching.
“I grew up with Maryland basketball,” Driesellsaid. “[Returning is] professionally a goal and personally adream.”
Driesell was a head coach at Division III MarymountUniversity from 1997-2003, guiding the team to its firstNCAA tournament appearance. Before that, he assisted Leftyat James Madison.
Given the bloodline connection, Williams was quick toemphasize the decision to hire Driesell was not made becauseof his name.
“The genes don’t hurt,” Williams said. “But I wouldn’t hiresomebody just because he’s somebody’s son if I didn’t thinkhe is a very good basketball coach.”
Driesell joins Keith Booth and Michael Adams as assistantson Williams’ staff.
Contact reporter Stephen Whyno at whynodbk@gmail.com.
