Kansas State University Athletics
Driscoll Hopes to Bring Synergy to K-State’s Offense
May 26, 2025 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Friday morning, Matthew Driscoll sat behind a table in a dark suit and blue-and-white tie while nursing a large Dunkin Donuts coffee at the Herbert University Center as 16 years of memories as North Florida head men's basketball coach poured out.
Hours later, the winningest coach in North Florida and Atlantic Sun Conference history with 248 wins wore a lavender dress shirt, sitting in his office on an introductory Zoom call, talking about "Manhappiness," and joining old friend Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang as the associate head coach for a Big 12 Conference program that is undergoing changes ahead of the 2025-26 season.
"Jerome Tang is a special human being," Driscoll said. "At the end of the day, the reason I'm coming is because God asked me to be there. All I know is God put me here, and after today, I'm starting to figure out why. As amazing as this was, I'm so excited to see what's in store going to Manhappiness and to be with Coach Tang at Kansas State."
Driscoll resigned as North Florida head coach hours before accepting his K-State appointment. His relationship with Tang dates back more than 20 years, as the two coached alongside each other for six seasons between 2003 and 2009 at Baylor as original members of head coach Scott Drew's staff. The pair were part of 81 wins at Baylor, helping Drew rebuild the scandal-ridden Bears to a NCAA Tournament team in 2007-08.
Driscoll took over the head coaching job at North Florida on April 7, 2009, taking the Ospreys to three regular-season ASUN championships and the school's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2015.
The gears started turning this past April.
"On April 3, to my face, Coach Tang made it very clear, intentionally through prayer," Driscoll said. "He said, 'Coach, I want you and specifically why is because of our six years at Baylor.'"
"When I take (a position) like this, I think, 'OK, you've done this, you've done that, you've won,'" Driscoll said. "All that stuff as a head coach is great. Now here's an opportunity to pour into a bunch of young people, too. There are a lot of levels to it."
Driscoll is the third new staff member hired by Tang. Veteran coach Bill Peterson, who has experience at virtually every level of college and professional basketball coaching, was hired as an assistant coach on April 29. Chase Driscoll, Matthew's son, was hired as Director of Video and Analytics by Tang on May 15 after serving as an assistant coach at North Florida the past four years.
Driscoll, who said that he visited K-State a couple weeks ago, said that he expects to arrive to town on June 6-7. Asked to describe his exact duties when he reaches Manhattan, Driscoll replied, "I'll be doing a lot."
"I know everybody on staff," he said. "Coach Peterson and I are older. The one thing I'm really good at, and I say this from a humble heart, is serving. It's of utmost importance to be proactive. I know there are going to be a lot of moving parts. Many hands make light work. I'm all about that. I think it's going to be a lot with the moving parts of people leaving and people coming in and a completely revamped roster. It's probably the best way to do it.
"I'll be both feet in and both hands on deck."
Tang in the news release announcing Driscoll's addition said, "At North Florida, he not only became the winningest coach in ASUN history but also built one of the most dynamic and efficient offenses in the country, consistently ranking among the national leaders in 3-point shooting and scoring. His basketball IQ and passion for teaching will bring tremendous value to our program and elevate our team on every level."
Driscoll, a three-time ASUN Coach of the Year who coached 19 ASUN all-conference selections, preached "synergy" for the K-State offense.
"What they did last year, I watched all their offensive stuff, and so many K-State games, as I did Baylor and Texas Tech, in obviously the same league," he said. "I had a really good feel for what the league was doing and the way in which they were doing it. If we continue to change just some minor things and continue to get better players and get them to understand synergy — when you have synergy, stuff happens, and you get stuff, and it becomes that much more beautiful."
While K-State at times struggled to hit shots last season, it is one K-State 3-pointer, in particular, that still haunts Driscoll more than a decade later.
"Will Spradling," Driscoll growled.
Spradling made a 3-pointer with 19 seconds left in regulation in a meeting between K-State and North Florida on December 11, 2011, that went into overtime. K-State went onto win 79-68 in Bramlage Coliseum.
"(Spradling) made that 3 in the corner," Driscoll said. "We were just on the cusp. When I think of Kansas State basketball, I think of Will Spradling."
Perhaps K-State will cause some opposing coaches to have nightmares this upcoming season.
"A great shooter is disciplined, committed and consistent," Driscoll said. "How do you get them to understand what those things look like? If you don't have base and finish, it's hard for your preparation to arrive at the opportunity to create the success. A-squared plus B-squared is C-squared, but if you're missing A or B, you can't get to C.
"It's that timing and understanding. We need these young guys to understand that. The ball has energy. From watching them, part of it is that ball, the energy, finding it at the appropriate time, and the other thing is guys being locked and loaded and ready."
As for longer 3-point attempts?
"Steph Curry is an outlier," Driscoll said. "The deeper you go, percentages change. Do you want to toe the line all the time? No. But do you want to be as close to the line as you possibly can? Of course. Moving up and getting into those areas, the timing is really critical to having a great-shooting team with the ability to score the ball."
Away from Xs and Os, K-State fans are likely to find Driscoll and his wife, Carrie, smiling on campus.
"I'm a Dunkin Donuts guy," he said. "You guys didn't have one the first few times we played you, and it drove me nuts. There are so many great things in Manhattan. We're going to live in the downtown area close to campus. If you walk by me, I'm going to say hello. And if you have two earbuds in, I'm still going to say hello. It's just who I am and how I'm wired.
"I try to be a blessing to anyone."
Friday morning, Matthew Driscoll sat behind a table in a dark suit and blue-and-white tie while nursing a large Dunkin Donuts coffee at the Herbert University Center as 16 years of memories as North Florida head men's basketball coach poured out.
Hours later, the winningest coach in North Florida and Atlantic Sun Conference history with 248 wins wore a lavender dress shirt, sitting in his office on an introductory Zoom call, talking about "Manhappiness," and joining old friend Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang as the associate head coach for a Big 12 Conference program that is undergoing changes ahead of the 2025-26 season.
"Jerome Tang is a special human being," Driscoll said. "At the end of the day, the reason I'm coming is because God asked me to be there. All I know is God put me here, and after today, I'm starting to figure out why. As amazing as this was, I'm so excited to see what's in store going to Manhappiness and to be with Coach Tang at Kansas State."
Driscoll resigned as North Florida head coach hours before accepting his K-State appointment. His relationship with Tang dates back more than 20 years, as the two coached alongside each other for six seasons between 2003 and 2009 at Baylor as original members of head coach Scott Drew's staff. The pair were part of 81 wins at Baylor, helping Drew rebuild the scandal-ridden Bears to a NCAA Tournament team in 2007-08.
Driscoll took over the head coaching job at North Florida on April 7, 2009, taking the Ospreys to three regular-season ASUN championships and the school's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2015.
The gears started turning this past April.
"On April 3, to my face, Coach Tang made it very clear, intentionally through prayer," Driscoll said. "He said, 'Coach, I want you and specifically why is because of our six years at Baylor.'"
"When I take (a position) like this, I think, 'OK, you've done this, you've done that, you've won,'" Driscoll said. "All that stuff as a head coach is great. Now here's an opportunity to pour into a bunch of young people, too. There are a lot of levels to it."
Driscoll is the third new staff member hired by Tang. Veteran coach Bill Peterson, who has experience at virtually every level of college and professional basketball coaching, was hired as an assistant coach on April 29. Chase Driscoll, Matthew's son, was hired as Director of Video and Analytics by Tang on May 15 after serving as an assistant coach at North Florida the past four years.
Driscoll, who said that he visited K-State a couple weeks ago, said that he expects to arrive to town on June 6-7. Asked to describe his exact duties when he reaches Manhattan, Driscoll replied, "I'll be doing a lot."
"I know everybody on staff," he said. "Coach Peterson and I are older. The one thing I'm really good at, and I say this from a humble heart, is serving. It's of utmost importance to be proactive. I know there are going to be a lot of moving parts. Many hands make light work. I'm all about that. I think it's going to be a lot with the moving parts of people leaving and people coming in and a completely revamped roster. It's probably the best way to do it.
"I'll be both feet in and both hands on deck."
Tang in the news release announcing Driscoll's addition said, "At North Florida, he not only became the winningest coach in ASUN history but also built one of the most dynamic and efficient offenses in the country, consistently ranking among the national leaders in 3-point shooting and scoring. His basketball IQ and passion for teaching will bring tremendous value to our program and elevate our team on every level."
Driscoll, a three-time ASUN Coach of the Year who coached 19 ASUN all-conference selections, preached "synergy" for the K-State offense.
"What they did last year, I watched all their offensive stuff, and so many K-State games, as I did Baylor and Texas Tech, in obviously the same league," he said. "I had a really good feel for what the league was doing and the way in which they were doing it. If we continue to change just some minor things and continue to get better players and get them to understand synergy — when you have synergy, stuff happens, and you get stuff, and it becomes that much more beautiful."
While K-State at times struggled to hit shots last season, it is one K-State 3-pointer, in particular, that still haunts Driscoll more than a decade later.
"Will Spradling," Driscoll growled.
Spradling made a 3-pointer with 19 seconds left in regulation in a meeting between K-State and North Florida on December 11, 2011, that went into overtime. K-State went onto win 79-68 in Bramlage Coliseum.
"(Spradling) made that 3 in the corner," Driscoll said. "We were just on the cusp. When I think of Kansas State basketball, I think of Will Spradling."
Perhaps K-State will cause some opposing coaches to have nightmares this upcoming season.
"A great shooter is disciplined, committed and consistent," Driscoll said. "How do you get them to understand what those things look like? If you don't have base and finish, it's hard for your preparation to arrive at the opportunity to create the success. A-squared plus B-squared is C-squared, but if you're missing A or B, you can't get to C.
"It's that timing and understanding. We need these young guys to understand that. The ball has energy. From watching them, part of it is that ball, the energy, finding it at the appropriate time, and the other thing is guys being locked and loaded and ready."
As for longer 3-point attempts?
"Steph Curry is an outlier," Driscoll said. "The deeper you go, percentages change. Do you want to toe the line all the time? No. But do you want to be as close to the line as you possibly can? Of course. Moving up and getting into those areas, the timing is really critical to having a great-shooting team with the ability to score the ball."
Away from Xs and Os, K-State fans are likely to find Driscoll and his wife, Carrie, smiling on campus.
"I'm a Dunkin Donuts guy," he said. "You guys didn't have one the first few times we played you, and it drove me nuts. There are so many great things in Manhattan. We're going to live in the downtown area close to campus. If you walk by me, I'm going to say hello. And if you have two earbuds in, I'm still going to say hello. It's just who I am and how I'm wired.
"I try to be a blessing to anyone."
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