Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 8, 1990 TAG: 9006080878
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: DURHAM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
"I have withdrawn my name from consideration for the Boston Celtics coaching position," Krzyzewski said in a two paragraph statement released this morning through the school's sports information department.
"I appreciate the opportunity to talk to the Celtics about the job and I appreciate Duke University allowing me to do so. I have made the decision to remain at Duke."
Krzyzewski planned no news conference, the school said.
A power struggle between Boston president Red Auerbach and Dave Gavitt, the team's new director of basketball operations, played a significant role in Krzyzewski's decision, a source close to the Celtics told The News and Observer of Raleigh.
Gavitt, hired by the Celtics less than two weeks ago, wanted Krzyzewski for the job. But Auerbach, the most successful coach in NBA history, vigorously opposed plans to hire a coach with no professional playing or coaching experience.
"That is stupid," Auerbach said today in reference to the power struggle. "It just shows the stupidity of some reporters. It's absolutely stupid. There is no credence to it at all.
"What we did was go into a lengthy discussion about the job, what it entailed, so on and so forth," Auerbach said. "We never got down to the nitty gritty. He [Krzyzewski] said he was going back to think about it. And if he had the interest, we were interested."
Krzyzewski, Duke's coach for the past 10 years, informed the Celtics and Duke athletic director Tom Butters of his decision before noon Thursday.
According to The News and Observer, Krzyzewski met for most of Wednesday with Auerbach in Washington and left the talks convinced that he could not accept a job offer from Gavitt.
Auerbach balked at Gavitt's desire to hire Krzyzewski and most of the Celtics players, particularly those who have been with the franchise for more than a decade, favor the hiring of assistant Chris Ford as Boston's new coach.
With Krzyzewski out of the picture, Ford becomes the leading candidate for the top job.
"Dave's been hung out to dry his first time out of the box," an NBA source told the newspaper. "There's loose footing everywhere. Don't be surprised if he [Gavitt] resigns. He's been lied to in a big way."
Neither Gavitt, 52, nor Krzyzewski, 43, has NBA experience. Auerbach, 72, coached the Celtics to nine NBA championships before moving to the front office after the 1966 season.
The rift between Gavitt and Auerbach developed before Gavitt's attempt to hire Krzyzewski. In contract negotiations with the Celtics, Gavitt, a successful coach at Providence who most recently has been the commissioner of the Big East Conference, was told that he would be given Auerbach's title of president of the franchise, the source told the News and Observer.
But near the end of contract talks, Gavitt was informed that Auerbach had asked to keep his title and office and that he would want only courtesy consultations in the hiring of a new coach. The title of director of basketball operations then was created for Gavitt, who approved the change.
Until news of Gavitt's talks with Krzyzewski became public last week, Auerbach thought that Gavitt preferred Ford to succeed Jimmy Rodgers, who had been fired as the Celtics' coach. When Auerbach learned that Gavitt planned to hire a coach with no NBA experience, he interceded and forced a showdown, the NBA source said.
Alan N. Cohen, the Celtics' majority stock owner, and Don Gaston, chairman of the board, could not be reached for comment Thursday.
At the announcement of Gavitt's hiring, Cohen said that Gavitt would be given the final authority in personnel matters.
"I don't know if I would object to anyone Dave or Red suggests," Cohen said Wednesday.
But Cohen did not intervene on Gavitt's behalf in the disagreement over Krzyzewski. B9 B5 CELTICS Celtics
by CNB