The Late Dave Gavitt to be Honored with the Carlesimo Award
One of the architects of modern college basketball, Dave Gavitt left a formidable imprint on the game he loved.
He galvanized efforts to create the Big East Conference in 1979 and served as its first commissioner until 1990. The conference quickly became a national powerhouse, and by 1985, it had its first NCAA Division I basketball champion.
As president of USA Basketball, he helped to bring NBA stars to the Olympic squad, a move that helped lead to a gold medal in 1992. While chairperson of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee, Gavitt’s work resulted in the expansion of the NCAA tournament to 64 teams and the use of domed stadiums for the Final Four.
He served as senior executive vice president of the Boston Celtics from 1990 to 1994, and as chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame from 1995 to 2003. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame three years later.
Gavitt’s career as a coach was no less impressive. During his tenure at Providence College from 1969–1979, he led the Rhode Island school to 209 wins, including eight consecutive 20–win seasons.
Gavitt passed away in 2011 at the age of 73.
University Advancement
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Office Locations:600 Linden St.
3rd and 4th floors
Scranton, PA 18510
Mailing Address:
800 Linden Street
Scranton, PA 18510
Phone: 1-800-SCRANTON
Event Information
Monday, June 24, 2024
Schedule
10 a.m. – Registration and lunch
Noon – Shotgun start
5 p.m. – Reception and Award Dinner
Location
Philadelphia Cricket Club
6025 West Valley Green Rd
Flourtown, PA 19031
Contact Us
Eric W. Eckenrode
Associate Vice President of Development
570.941.7719
eric.eckenrode@scranton.edu