Lefty Driesell Expected to Become the Head Coach at James Madison

Former Maryland basketball coach Lefty Driesell is close to an agreement with James Madison University that would make him its new head coach, according to sources.

Driesell, 56, is likely to sign a five-year contract with the school this week, barring a last-minute snag in negotiations. Sources say that the final hurdle to Driesell’s taking the job--the length of the contract--was cleared late last week when the two parties agreed to a five-year deal with an option on both sides for two additional years.

Driesell, contacted here, said: “I hope this will work out. Nothing is final yet. Beyond that I’m not in a position to comment further.”

James Madison Athletic Director Dean Ehlers, reached Saturday night at his home in Harrisonburg, Va., declined to comment when asked if all the snags had been smoothed out.

“Hopefully, we will have an announcement this week,” Ehlers said. “About a week late.”

The delay in completing the agreement has come largely because two contracts are involved, with James Madison and with the University of Maryland. Driesell has seven years left on his Maryland contract, where he is making about $150,000 annually as an assistant athletic director. Maryland apparently has agreed to pay the difference between Driesell’s salary at James Madison, reported to be about $75,000 annually, and his Maryland wage.