
DATE: Thursday, March 6, 1997               TAG: 9703060549

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:  119 lines

DRIESELL FIRED BY JAMES MADISON NORFOLK NATIVE RAPS PRESIDENT FOR BROKEN "PROMISE."

A day after Charles ``Lefty'' Driesell announced his plan to coach basketball at James Madison University one more season before retiring, the school's administration issued the last word on the subject.

That word was ``Goodbye.''

Driesell, the Norfolk native who is 683-335 in 35 college basketball seasons, will not be rehired when his contract expires in April, James Madison officials said in a statement Wednesday - a day on which two other Colonial Athletic Association coaches, American's Chris Knoche and Richmond's Bill Dooley, also lost their jobs.

In dismissing Driesell, 65, after nine seasons, James Madison president Dr. Ronald E. Carrier and athletic director Donald L. Lemish cited:

Surprise that Driesell would announce to Harrisonburg reporters his future plans without first discussing his status with the university.

Driesell's failure to meet goals set for the program when he was hired in 1988.

Rapidly declining support of the program from James Madison students, alumni and Harrisonburg-area residents. The program ``has deteriorated,'' their statement said.

Poor academic performance of James Madison basketball players.

``The majority of team members are facing academic difficulty,'' Madison's statement said. ``The men's basketball team has the lowest average grade-point average among all 27 JMU teams.

``It has become clear that the JMU community - including members of the Board of Visitors - no longer supports maintaining Mr. Driesell as coach beyond the expiration of his current contract.

``An immediate change in leadership is essential to ensure future success for JMU basketball players, both on and off the court. A search for a new coach will begin immediately.''

Clearly, the Dukes' performance on the court has been disappointing. Driesell arrived in Harrisonburg amid much fanfare, having coached at Maryland (1969-86) and Davidson (1960-69), making 11 NCAA tournaments.

Compiling a 159-111 record under Driesell, the Dukes made six CAA tournament finals, but won just once - in 1993-94 on a last-second 3-pointer that defeated Old Dominion and earned Driesell his only NCAA tournament berth at Madison.

Driesell's last game at Madison was an overtime loss Monday to ODU in the CAA tournament final in which the Dukes blew a late lead in regulation.

In a brief interview, Lemish said, ``Coach Driesell brought a great level of excitement to the JMU program when he came in 1988 and some great expectations, some of which have been achieved and some of which ... I think our fans were expecting a higher level.

``At this point in time, we feel we need to make a change and head in a different direction.''

Carrier had earlier said that Driesell, who ranks 11th in all-time Division I coaching victories, would win his 700th game as James Madison's coach.

Driesell called that a ``promise'' and - in a statement issued through his son, Chuck, a James Madison assistant coach - he lashed out at Carrier for not keeping his word.

When he announced his intention to coach another season, Driesell said he did so based on statements that Carrier had made ``both publicly and privately victories.

``I had no indication that the administration apparently had decided that it would not honor those promises. I see no reason to dignify the statements made by Dr. Carrier and Mr. Lemish by responding in kind. ... Our record at James Madison University speaks for itself.''

Chuck Driesell said he had no comment on the decision except to say, ``It's not something I've ever been through before, and I don't wish it upon anybody.''

Driesell came to James Madison after he resigned at Maryland in 1986 following the death of star player Len Bias, who had used cocaine.

Among James Madison fans, support for Driesell had increasingly weakened, said Greg Cross, a Virginia Beach resident who graduated in 1975 and contributed annually to James Madison's program.

``After the first couple of years, I don't think there were any additional expectations,'' Cross said. ``As time went on, you could just see it was what it was and that's probably all it was going to be.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]

HUY NGUYEN

The Virginian-Pilot

With support for the team lagging and poor academic performance by

his players, JMU clearly felt Lefty Driesell had the program pointed

in the wrong direction.

DRIESELL STATEMENT

``On Monday, I said I would coach only for one more season at

JMU. I said that because of promises made both publicly and

privately by President Carrier and others that I was welcome to

coach at JMU until I reached 700 coaching victories. I had no

indication that the Administration apparently had decided that it

would not honor those promises.