Atlanta ? Lefty Driesell is stepping down as Georgia State’s basketball coach after 786 victories at four schools.

The 71-year-old Driesell is stepping down immediately. Assistant coach Michael Perry will replace him on an interim basis beginning with tonight’s home game against Gardner-Webb.

“I woke up New Year’s Day and I told (wife) Joyce, I’ve worked 49 years and most people retire after 25 years. I’m just tired and I’ve got this bad cold and I’m just going to retire,” Driesell said Friday. “I’m looking forward to not having a job. I can get up when I want to and do what I want to.”

Driesell missed the Panthers’ 73-62 victory at Furman on Thursday night with the flu. Georgia State is 4-6 this season.

He is in his 41st season and has the fifth-most wins in Division I history, third among active coaches. Driesell is the only coach to win 100 games at four schools; Davidson, Maryland and James Madison are the others.

The man known as the Ol’ Left-hander — his given name is Charles — took all four of his schools to postseason play, with 13 trips to the NCAA tournament and eight NIT appearances. Driesell was one of 14 finalists last year for the Basketball Hall of Fame. His overall record of 786-394 gives him a .666 winning percentage.