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In Their Own Words: Dartmouth Legend of Ivy League Basketball Dave Gavitt

By Julie Gavitt, wife of Dave Gavitt, Dartmouth ‘59
 
IvyLeague.com: Why did Dave choose to attend an Ivy League institution?
Julie: Dave chose Dartmouth as a son of New Hampshire. He was recruited for basketball by head coach Doggie Julian and he had several mentors from Peterborough, N.H. who were alums of the College.
 
IvyLeague.com: How did Dave’s Ivy League experience help prepare him for his career?
Julie: As a History Major, Dave was exposed to many liberal arts subjects that continued to interest him throughout his life. That exposure helped him develop the confidence, skills and the critical thinking to work in the education field, sports arena and in the business world.
 
IvyLeague.com: What accomplishment during Dave’s time at Dartmouth was he most proud of/had the most significance to him?
Julie: Dave was extremely proud to have been a member of the Dartmouth Class of 1959. He was also proud to have been a member of the Dartmouth’s men’s basketball teams that won the Ivy League and competed in the NCAA Tournament in 1958 and 1959. His membership on Dartmouth’s baseball team, coached by Tony Lupien, were also very significant in his chosen career.
 
IvyLeague.com: What accomplishment after Dave’s time at Dartmouth was he most proud of/had the most significance to him?
Julie: Dave was fortunate to work with Coach Dee Rowe at Worcester Academy where he taught history, did dorm duty, coached basketball, ran study halls and learned about administration and how to work with young people. His experience there led him to become the basketball coach and athletic director at Providence College, a school he loved. He was a lifelong member of the Friar Family, as well as the Big Green. Dave’s work with the Big East Conference was a highlight for him, as well as his different roles with USA Basketball (serving as Olympic head coach in 1980), the Boston Celtics (where he was CEO and Vice Chairman of the Board) and being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
 
IvyLeague.com: What was Dave’s most memorable experience from his time in the Ivy League?
Julie: In 1966 Dave was invited to come back to Hanover as the Freshman Basketball Coach under Doggie Julian. He was thrilled! We and our two sons lived in college housing on South Balch Street, just a short walk to the gym. Imagine his delight, coming home as a member of the administration. He became the head coach of the Big Green shortly thereafter. It was a proud moment for a young graduate.
 
IvyLeague.com: Is there another Ivy League school that Dave most enjoyed traveling to and why?
Julie: As an undergraduate, Dave most frequently traveled to Harvard, because of its proximity to Dartmouth for a road trip. While living in Rhode Island, years later, Dave had many great friends at Brown University, one of which was coach J. Gerald Alaimo, who also worked with him at Providence College. Dave competed against all the Ivy League schools as a student-athlete, coach and administrator throughout his career in athletics.
 
IvyLeague.com: Did Dave ever work with any former Ivy League student-athletes?
Julie: Dave was lucky to work with several Dartmouth and Ivy League alumni, including former SEC Commissioner and Big Green alum Mike Slive ‘62, as they served on the NCAA Basketball Committee together. Dave also worked closely with Dartmouth alum and former Syracuse athletic director Jake Crouthamel ‘60 in the formation of the Big East Conference.
 
IvyLeague.com: How did Dave stay involved with Dartmouth after his undergraduate career?
Julie: Dave was a frequent fan at many college events. He served as Master of Ceremonies at several Class Reunions, was a proud member of the Wearers of the Green and often joined classmates for golf games, concerts and tennis matches, and served as an active advisor for several searches for head basketball coaches at the College. He was also very proud to have his son Daniel attend Dartmouth (class of 1988); it was a very exciting moment when Dan joined Dave as a member of the Big Green community. Dave was also proud that our youngest son, Corey, played lacrosse at The University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill (class of 1989).
Dave Gavitt was a Dartmouth men's basketball student-athlete from 1955-59. He is a member of the 2019 Class of Legends of Ivy League Basketball that will be formally honored during the 2019 Ivy League Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments on Saturday, March 16, at the John J. Lee Amphitheater in New Haven, Conn. Purchase tickets at IvyMadness.com.