A New Coach for Basketball
During the summer of 1969, Dave Gavitt left Dartmouth and the beginning of a basketball rebuilding program to become basketball coach (and now director of athletics) at Providence College.
He said, "I don't think I'd have left Dartmouth for any other college." Gavitt had been freshman coach under his Providence predecessor, Joe Mullaney, before returning to his alma mater in 1966.
Gavitt was succeeded by George Blaney, who during the past three seasons produced two winning campaigns. In early April, Blaney echoed Gavitt's statement as he resigned to become basketball coach and assistant director of athletics at Holy Cross, his alma mater.
So, for the fourth time in three years, Dartmouth turned to a member of its current staff to pick a major-sport head coach.
Tom O'Connor, who was assistant coach in 1970 and guided the Dartmouth freshmen to a 12-5 record last winter, became the Green's 19th head coach of basketball and followed a path taken by former assistants Jake Crout-hamel (football), Grant Standbrook (hockey), and Ron Keenhold (swimming).
"We're naturally disappointed to lose George," said Seaver Peters, the director of athletics who announced O'Connor's appointment. "But Tom has demonstrated excellent on-court coaching ability and he has the working familiarity with Dartmouth's basketball program to maintain the continuity we feel is essential."
O'Connor is the youngest basketball coach (he's 25) at Dartmouth since before World War I. He's the youngest Ivy League basketball coach and one of the nation's youngest major college coaches.
He grew up in Jersey City, N.J, and was a four-year starter at Assumption College from 1964 to 1968. He competed in the NCAA College Division tournament each year, won All-New England recognition four times, and stands fifth among Assumption's alltime basketball scoring leaders.
He coached at Clinton (Mass.) High School for two years before coming to Dartmouth. At Clinton his teams won 31 games during two seasons including a 17-3 league championship effort in 1969-70.
Tom O'Connor (r), new head basketballcoach, with George Blaney (c), whom hesucceeds, and Bob Dukiet, asst. coach.
