Charles "Lefty" Driesell (2005) - JMU Athletics Hall of Fame

Charles "Lefty" Driesell

Induction:
2005

Charles "Lefty" Driesell coached JMU's men's basketball team from 1988-97, compiling a 159-111 (.589) record and leading the Dukes to the NCAA Tournament in 1994 and to National Invitation Tournament appearances in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993. His teams had the Colonial Athletic Association's best regular-season record or tied for the league's best regular-season mark for five straight years from 1989-90 through 1993-94, and the Dukes had four 20-victory seasons during his JMU tenure.

Driesell was the CAA coach of the year in 1989-90 when JMU compiled a 20-11 overall record and an 11-3 conference mark and in 1991-92 when his team was 21-11 overall and 12-2 in the league. JMU during the 1993-94 season won the CAA Tournament by rallying from a 19-point, second-half deficit during the championship game before falling 64-62 in first-round NCAA play to a Florida team that advanced to the Final Four.

Driesell's JMU teams reached the finals of the CAA Tournament six times, and while with the Dukes the Norfolk, Va., native coached two CAA players of the year, two CAA rookies of the year, 11 first-team All-CAA performers, and three conference scoring champions.