University of North Georgia (UNG) alumnus Patrick Moynihan originally planned to follow his father's footsteps into the business world, but one coaching experience led him in a different direction. He followed his famous grandfather, Charles "Lefty" Driesell, into the college basketball arena.
"My grandfather was a Division I coach for a long time," the 2013 UNG graduate said. Driesell led programs at Davidson College, the University of Maryland, James Madison University and Georgia State University. "Growing up, I looked up to him. He told me, 'Don't be a coach, be a pro.'"
While he tried to follow that advice — Moynihan had the opportunity to play basketball overseas — he discovered his love of coaching while assisting with Buford High School's basketball program following graduation from UNG.
"My old high school coach said I could volunteer to coach and the next year, he would work to find me a position," Moynihan said, adding he also coached an AAU team. "When I started practicing with the team in September, I realized I loved coaching."
Since then, Moynihan has pursued his passion, working at University of North Alabama, Troy University and Presbyterian College. In summer 2019, Moynihan became assistant coach at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina.
"Appalachian State is similar to UNG," he said. "It's in the Appalachian Mountains and a blue-collar family place. Everyone is welcoming. And when I was first hired, I felt like I was back at UNG to an extent."
UNG's friendly atmosphere and its coaching staff's chemistry prompted Moynihan to enroll at UNG instead of other schools pursuing him for basketball. The lessons he learned supported the early teachings of his grandfather.
"The biggest thing I learned from him was hard work. His motto was, 'The harder I work, the luckier I get,'" Moynihan said.
At UNG, he learned to value the relationships and environment created by faculty and staff.
"UNG always had an open-door policy," Moynihan said. "Whether it was the athletic director or an assistant coach or business professor, it was always welcoming."
The 29-year-old from Alpharetta, Georgia, now uses those models in his role as an assistant coach. He also uses his skills he learned as a business student, specifically the managerial lessons.
"Coaching is management," he said. "You have to find a way to motivate and communicate and deliver a message to bring the best out of people. A good manager inspires them to do their best."
During the past six years as a coach, Moynihan feels he is teaching his students to reach for their dreams as he has. Along with earning a master's degree at Troy in May 2017, he was part of the coaching staff that helped the Trojans win the 2017 Sun Belt Conference tournament title and earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
"That was an amazing moment," Moynihan said. "I work every day as hard as I can to get back there. I want to experience that again. It was one of the greatest experiences I ever had."
Now, he plans to take his new team and students to their next level. Not too bad for a man who majored in business based on his father's advice.
"My dad said, 'Get a business degree, and you can do anything,'" Moynihan said.
Turns out, his dad was right.
