Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 31, 1990 TAG: 9005310126
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BOSTON LENGTH: Medium
"It's time for a new challenge in my life," Gavitt said. "Some of the challenges are the same, but the scoreboard is a little brighter than the arena I'm coming from."
Gavitt, former coach at Dartmouth and Providence, stepped down as the Big East commissioner to become director of operations for the Celtics.
"I believe we have landed one of the best basketball minds in the business," said Red Auerbach, the Celtics' president. "He will be senior executive vice president and chief operating officer. He's the basketball guy that we feel can do an awful lot."
No financial terms were announced, but Celtics board chairman Don Gaston said Gavitt received a five-year contract.
Gavitt, 52, also will step down as president of the USA-ABA, the governing body in American amateur basketball, after the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
He delayed formal acceptance of the Celtics' offer, which reportedly includes stock options, until he oversaw negotiations for a new Big East television contract last week.
"After 28 or 30 years, it was not an easy bridge to cross," Gavitt said. "I'm really pleased, though, with what appears to be a good transition with the Big East. There's no question in my mind I'm sitting where I ought to be today. It's the right thing for me."
In being granted "full and complete authority and responsibility with respect to all phases of the Celtics basketball operation," Gavitt will report only to the team's co-owners - Gaston, Paul Dupee and Alan Cohen. However, he said, he is looking forward to working with Auerbach and general manager Jan Volk.
Gavitt said his goal is "to put the best damn Celtics team on the court we can. What we are now is not what we would like to be, but we're not chopped liver, either."
As for trades, Gavitt said, "Right now I'm as dumb as hell. I haven't been in Siberia and I'm aware of what's been going on, but I don't know NBA personnel anywhere near as well as I need to know it."
Gavitt said one his first duties will be the hiring of a coach to replace Jimmy Rodgers, who was fired May 8. Chris Ford, an assistant coach, is a leading candidate, but Gavitt said he also wants to look at other candidates.
Gavitt said he met with Ford for 90 minutes before Wednesday's news conference and said the former Celtics player would be given serious consideration.
Gavitt, who played basketball and baseball at Dartmouth for three years, coached at Worcester Academy and was an assistant under Joe Mullaney at Providence. He moved to Dartmouth for 2 1/2 years, then returned to Providence as coach in 1969.
In his 10 seasons, Providence was 209-84. Gavitt guided the team to eight 20-victory seasons and was voted New England coach of the year five times. His Friars went to the NCAA Tournament four times, making the Final Four in 1973, and the NIT three times.
Gavitt retired from coaching in 1979, when he helped form the Big East and became its first commissioner. He was coach of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team, but the Americans boycotted the Games.
As commissioner for 11 years, Gavitt built the Big East into one of the strongest basketball conferences in the nation.
Gavitt said athletic directors in the Big East would choose his successor. However, he strongly endorsed his top assistant, Mike Tranghese, for the job.
by CNB