Dave Gavitt

Dave Gavitt Coach led organization of Big East Conference Dave Gavitt, 73, one of basketball's most influential leaders in the last three decades, died Friday in a hospital near his hometown of Rumford, R.I., after a long illness, his family said. Gavitt coached Providence College to the NCAA tournament five times, including the Final Four in 1973. He was the driving force behind the formation of the Big East Conference and was its first commissioner.

Dave Gavitt Coach led organization of Big East Conference Dave Gavitt, 73, one of basketball's most influential leaders in the last three decades, died Friday in a hospital near his hometown of Rumford, R.I., after a long illness, his family said. Gavitt coached Providence College to the NCAA tournament five times, including the Final Four in 1973. He was the driving force behind the formation of the Big East Conference and was its first commissioner.

Time for Big East Commissioner Dave Gavitt to come to the aid of his conference. Georgetown and Pittsburgh played what passed for a basketball game at Capital Centre Wednesday night. The Hoyas won, 62-57, not that big a surprise in spite of Pitt's silly No. 2 ranking. The Panthers without academic casualties Rod Brookin and Mike Goodson are a good team but Coach Paul Evans wasn't far wrong when he said, "The lineup we're playing, we aren't even No. 22 much less No. 2."

The Boston Celtics on Tuesday fired Dave Gavitt as senior executive vice president and replaced him with former Celtic player M.L. Carr, who will decide whether former teammate Chris Ford remains as coach. Gavitt will be a vice chairman of the Celtic board with unspecified responsibilities but no longer will be in charge of basketball operations.

C.M. Newton, Kentucky's athletic director, was elected president of USA Basketball, succeeding Dave Gavitt.

Dave Gavitt, commissioner of the Big East Conference and head of amateur basketball in the United States, moved to the pro ranks Wednesday by accepting a challenge to rebuild the Boston Celtics as their director of operations. Gavitt, former coach at Dartmouth and Providence, was given a five-year contract. "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."

The Boston Celtics on Tuesday fired Dave Gavitt as senior executive vice president and replaced him with former Celtic player M.L. Carr, who will decide whether former teammate Chris Ford remains as coach. Gavitt will be a vice chairman of the Celtic board with unspecified responsibilities but no longer will be in charge of basketball operations.

Big East Commissioner Dave Gavitt today was named head of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics. One of his first tasks will be to find a successor to fired head Coach Jimmy Rodgers. "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 president and chief operating officer. He's the basketball guy that we feel can do an awful lot."

C.M. Newton, Kentucky's athletic director, was elected president of USA Basketball, succeeding Dave Gavitt.

Dave Gavitt, commissioner of the Big East Conference and head of amateur basketball in the United States, moved to the pro ranks Wednesday by accepting a challenge to rebuild the Boston Celtics as their director of operations. Gavitt, former coach at Dartmouth and Providence, was given a five-year contract. "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."

Big East Commissioner Dave Gavitt today was named head of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics. One of his first tasks will be to find a successor to fired head Coach Jimmy Rodgers. "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 president and chief operating officer. He's the basketball guy that we feel can do an awful lot."

Time for Big East Commissioner Dave Gavitt to come to the aid of his conference. Georgetown and Pittsburgh played what passed for a basketball game at Capital Centre Wednesday night. The Hoyas won, 62-57, not that big a surprise in spite of Pitt's silly No. 2 ranking. The Panthers without academic casualties Rod Brookin and Mike Goodson are a good team but Coach Paul Evans wasn't far wrong when he said, "The lineup we're playing, we aren't even No. 22 much less No. 2."

A fragment from a bulging disk that had herniated was removed from the back of the Boston Celtics' Larry Bird during two hours of surgery Friday. Bird, 34, sat out 22 games this season. His rehabilitation program will include 10 miles of walking for flexibility but no other athletic activity. "It's not fair or proper to place a timetable (on Bird's return)," said Dave Gavitt, Celtic senior executive vice president. "We know he'll be back with us at some point during the 1991-92 season."