November 1, 1986 GATLIN AND GREGG RULED INELIGIBLE FOR THE SEASON Keith Gatlin, the starting point guard from the previous season, and forward David Gregg were ruled ineligible and assistant coach Ron Bradley chose to leave the program. Further, forward Derrick Lewis expressed uncertainty on his status for the season. As Reported in the Washington Post From the book: Born Ready: the Mixed Legacy of Len Bias Dealing With the Death of Len Bias Keith Gatlin Keith Gatlin, courtes

October 30, 1986 Bob Wade Hired as Terps Basketball Coach One day after Charles "Lefty" Driesell resigned as Maryland's men's basketball coach, the university announced the hiring of Bob Wade to coach the team. As Reported in the Washington Post From the book: Born Ready: the Mixed Legacy of Len Bias The Dynamics of Hiring Coach Wade Bob Wade, courtesy of Maryland athletics. “He had a record of making certain that his students studied; otherwise, they couldn’t play,” Chancell

October 29, 1986 Driesell Resigns as Maryland Coach The 17-year coaching reign of Maryland men's basketball coach Charles "Lefty" Driesell ends as part of the fallout from the death of Len Bias some four months earlier. The resignation marked the beginning of the end of arguably the most colorful and controversial character in Maryland athletics history. As reported in the Washington Post Driesell Reflects on His Role in Maryland Athletics after Resigning Driesell held an emo

October 27, 1986 Anti-Drug Abuse Act Signed Into Law Prompted by the death of Len Bias four months earlier, the U.S. Congress passed The Anti-Drug Abuse Act that established mandatory minimum sentences for certain drug crimes. The law, signed by President Reagan on October 27, 1986, established a 100 to 1 disparity between powder and crack cocaine and a mandatory minimum of five years in prison for minor offenses. The law is the most significant political part of the legacy o

October 13, 2022 Bias Inducted Into Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame When Len Bias earned an induction into the Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame, the number of such honors reached five. To date, it is the last hall of fame honor for Bias. Also inducted that year: former Maryland basketball player and coach Gary Williams and former Terps football player Darryl Hill. From the Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame website A Video Tribute to Len Bias as Part of His Inducti

October 7, 2014 Athletic Director Dick Dull Resigns Dick Dull was the first high profile staff member of the University of Maryland athletic deparrtment to resign following the death of Len Bias on June 19, 1986. Dick Dull announces his resignation at a press conference. As Reported in the Washington Post Excerpts from the book Born Ready: The Mixed Legacy of Len Bias When Dull Found Out Len Bias Had Died On the morning of June 19, Dull was home when Maryland Assistant Vice P

October 5, 2014 Len Bias Featured in Terp Magazine For the first time since the death of Len Bias, a periodical connected to the University of Maryland published a feature about him. Bias was featured on the magazine's cover. The story that stretched six pages inside the magazine prompted a sample of responses, as presented below. The first page of the story. Read the story online How Did Readers React to the Story? Thanks… I have never written to a magazine before, but you

October 3, 2014 Len Bias Receives His Terps Due University of Maryland athletes are eligible to be inducted into the Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame 10 years after they finish competing as a Terp. It took Len Bias nearly 30 years join other top Terps athletes in the Hall. He was inducted on October 3, 2014. It was the second, and perhaps most symbolic, of his five hall of fame inductions. Dr. Lonise Bias and James Bias accept the award for Len Bias's Maryland Hall of Fame ind

October 2, 2014 Dr. Lonise Bias Interview Rock Newman interviewed Dr. Lonise Bias on his show that was broadcast on WHUT-TV in Washington, D.C on October 2, 2014, It aired one day before her son, Len Bias, was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame. Dr. Lonise Bias on the Rock Newman Show Excerpts from the interview as they appeared in the book: Born Ready: The Mixed Legacy of Len Bias Talking about Jay Bias' fondness for his brother Len (Len) meant

September 3, 1986 Academic Advisor Reassigned As appeared in the Washington Post, September 3, 1986 Jim Dietsch passed away on March 31, 2026. Much of the content presented in the Timelines was produced in 2022 by Enzo Alvarenga, a University of Maryland Journalism student at the time. Enzo died in an accident while riding a bicycle when he was working as a volunteer on the project. The honor his memory, the University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism has es

August 28, 1989 Walt Williams Chooses to Stay at Maryland Walt Williams finished his four years at Maryland and surpassed the single season scoring record set by Bias, scoring 776 points in 1992. By staying at Maryland during challenging times for the program, he secured a legacy as one of the most revered players in Maryland basketball history. Williams was the 7th overall pick in the NBA draft in 1992. He played 11 season in the NBA.

August 27, 1986 As appeared in the Washington Post, August 27, 1986 Lefty Much of the content presented in the Timelines was produced in 2022 by Enzo Alvarenga, a University of Maryland Journalism student at the time. Enzo died in an accident while riding a bicycle when he was working as a volunteer on the project. The honor his memory, the University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism has established the Enzo Bibes Alvarenga Endowed Scholarship in Journalism.

August 14, 1986 Washington Post story, August 14, 1986 Much of the content presented in the Timelines was produced in 2022 by Enzo Alvarenga, a University of Maryland Journalism student at the time. Enzo died in an accident while riding a bicycle when he was working as a volunteer on the project. The honor his memory, the University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism has established the Enzo Bibes Alvarenga Endowed Scholarship in Journalism. For more informati

August 11, 1986 Testimony at the trial of Brian Tribble, right, revealed repeated drug use by Len Bias and some of his teammates. Washington Post story, August 11, 1986 Much of the content presented in the Timelines was produced in 2022 by Enzo Alvarenga, a University of Maryland Journalism student at the time. Enzo died in an accident while riding a bicycle when he was working as a volunteer on the project. The honor his memory, the University of Maryland Philip Merrill Co

August 12, 1986 John Johnson, shown above during an interview at Bentley's Restaurant in 2011, and below as a sophomore at Maryland during the 1986-87 season. He was among Maryland players who testified to a grand jury. As appeared in the Washington Post, August 12, 1986 Much of the content presented in the Timelines was produced in 2022 by Enzo Alvarenga, a University of Maryland Journalism student at the time. Enzo died in an accident while riding a bicycle when he was

July 31, 1986 David Gregg Terry Long Much of the content presented in the Timelines was produced in 2022 by Enzo Alvarenga, a University of Maryland Journalism student at the time. Enzo died in an accident while riding a bicycle when he was working as a volunteer on the project. The honor his memory, the University of Maryland Philip Merrill Collefge of Journalism has established the Enzo Bibes Alvarenga Endowed Scholarship in Journalism. For more information and to support

July 29, 1986 Tribble Turns Himself In Brian Tribble, one of three others in the room with Len Bias when he died, is the only one who faced charges. Picture as it appeared in the Washington Post. Derrick Lewis, a temmate of Len Bias, reflects on his memories of Brian Tribble. Much of the content presented in the Timelines was produced in 2022 by Enzo Alvarenga, a University of Maryland Journalism student at the time. Enzo died in an acci

July 26, 1986 Grand Jury Indicts Three in Bias Case Two teammates were among those charged with crimes related to the death of Len Bias. Prosecutor Jeffrey Harding explains discussions at the trial of Brian Tribble that addresses who bought the cocaine used the night Len Bias died. Some content is excerpted from the book Born Ready: the Mixed Legacy of Len Bias Listen to more about Len's legacy in the narrative podcast series, Len Bias: A Mixed Legacy

July 24, 1986 Drug Testing Changes Planned at Maryland Maryland athletics proposed a plan that would change the way its athletes are tested for drug use. One change would involve each athletes getting tested three times year. Former Maryland gymnastics coach Bob Nelligan talks about how Maryland's new drug program worked within athletics. Some content is excerpted from the book Born Ready: the Mixed Legacy of Len Bias Listen to more about Len's legacy in the narrative podcas

July 9, 1986 Massenburg Suspended Tony Massenburg, a Maryland freshman during the 1985-86 season, was determined to have cheated on a test. He disputed the decision, claiming it was a way for Maryland to show it was cleaning up the basketbal program following the death of Bias. Tony Massenburg, right, spent 15 seasons in the NBA after playing four seasons at Maryland. Some content is excerpted from the book Born Ready: the Mixed Legacy of Len Bias Listen to more about Len'