What they're saying about Lefty Driesell
Terry Holland '64
Coach Driesell’s recent presentation as one of the newest members of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is the result of his consistent belief that you can accomplish anything if you are willing to work harder than your competition.
Coach Driesell truly believed the players he recruited could (and would) overcome any obstacles that the team would meet during the season.
If anyone on the Davidson team did not attend church on Sunday, then those players had to attend church with the Driesell family.
Coach Driesell always enjoyed scrimmaging with our team members before and after practice.
There were always a few bumps and bruises from those scrimmages.
Coach made sure we all knew and believed in our ability to compete with any team in college basketball... IF WE BELIEVED IN OUR TEAMMATES AND OUR COACHES!
Coach Driesell visited our family (the Holland family) for a recruiting visit in the spring of 1960.
At that time, none of our family members had even met Coach Driesell.
By the end of Coach Driesell’s visit, he had convinced all the Holland family that he could build a championship basketball program at Davidson... in spite of the fact that, before Coach Driesell arrived, Davidson’s three previous seasons had not produced a single win against a Division I team.
When we sat down to eat dinner, my mother and father offered Coach Driesell a second steak and then a third steak.
When even Coach Driesell couldn’t eat another steak, he asked if he could take the last steak in a “doggie bag” since there would not be many places in Clinton, NC to eat now that nightfall was upon us.
At this point, my girlfriend (Ann... now my wife of fifty-plus years) was waiting for me to pick her up and take her to the Prom.
Coach Driesell very graciously stood up and offered me the keys to his fifty-five Ford.
As the Student Body President, my duty at the Prom was to welcome all the attendees.
So, I was very happy to take Coach’s keys, pick up Ann and head to the prom.
As we were dancing at the prom, it hit me that leaving Coach Driesell with my mom and dad might not be too smart.
So Ann and I hurried home, but found that Coach Driesell had already sold my parents a set of World Books and he was also offering my parents a full set of lightening rods to protect our home during storms.
Coach Driesell is a living legend and we hope he will be filling that role for many, many years to come.
Coach’s wife, Joyce, welcomed our team members, (particularly those team members a long way from their homes).
TERRY HOLLAND
Class of 1964
Former Davidson Player, Head Coach and Director of Athletics
Coach Driesell truly believed the players he recruited could (and would) overcome any obstacles that the team would meet during the season.
If anyone on the Davidson team did not attend church on Sunday, then those players had to attend church with the Driesell family.
Coach Driesell always enjoyed scrimmaging with our team members before and after practice.
There were always a few bumps and bruises from those scrimmages.
Coach made sure we all knew and believed in our ability to compete with any team in college basketball... IF WE BELIEVED IN OUR TEAMMATES AND OUR COACHES!
Coach Driesell visited our family (the Holland family) for a recruiting visit in the spring of 1960.
At that time, none of our family members had even met Coach Driesell.
By the end of Coach Driesell’s visit, he had convinced all the Holland family that he could build a championship basketball program at Davidson... in spite of the fact that, before Coach Driesell arrived, Davidson’s three previous seasons had not produced a single win against a Division I team.
When we sat down to eat dinner, my mother and father offered Coach Driesell a second steak and then a third steak.
When even Coach Driesell couldn’t eat another steak, he asked if he could take the last steak in a “doggie bag” since there would not be many places in Clinton, NC to eat now that nightfall was upon us.
At this point, my girlfriend (Ann... now my wife of fifty-plus years) was waiting for me to pick her up and take her to the Prom.
Coach Driesell very graciously stood up and offered me the keys to his fifty-five Ford.
As the Student Body President, my duty at the Prom was to welcome all the attendees.
So, I was very happy to take Coach’s keys, pick up Ann and head to the prom.
As we were dancing at the prom, it hit me that leaving Coach Driesell with my mom and dad might not be too smart.
So Ann and I hurried home, but found that Coach Driesell had already sold my parents a set of World Books and he was also offering my parents a full set of lightening rods to protect our home during storms.
Coach Driesell is a living legend and we hope he will be filling that role for many, many years to come.
Coach’s wife, Joyce, welcomed our team members, (particularly those team members a long way from their homes).
TERRY HOLLAND
Class of 1964
Former Davidson Player, Head Coach and Director of Athletics
