Lefty Driesell Is Expected to Resign Today as Maryland Coach

Charles (Lefty) Driesell, the University of Maryland’s basketball coach, has called a news conference for today, at which time he is expected to resign after 17 years and accept a position as assistant athletic director.

Driesell, who has a 524-224 record in 26 years as a college coach and a 348-159 record at Maryland, has nine years remaining on a 10-year contract.

The Washington Post reported Tuesday that the school will buy out the remainder of Driesell’s contract, paying him more than $1 million over nine years, while giving him the non-coaching position.

That arrangement would avert a potential suit for the $2 million to $3 million that the remaining time on his contract reportedly is worth.

Driesell, the second winningest active coach in NCAA Division I, has been the target of sharp criticism since the cocaine-induced death of basketball star Len Bias on June 19 and subsequent revelations of poor academic performance by his players.

Driesell has not specified what his future will be. “If Maryland doesn’t want me to coach, that’s fine with me,” he said. “If someone else wants me to coach, I might do that.”