KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Basketball Coaches on Thursday announced the recipients of the 2022 NABC Guardians of the Game pillar awards. The awards are presented annually at the NABC Convention to NABC-member coaches and administrators who embody the NABC’s core values of leadership, service, education, advocacy and inclusion.
Receiving the 2022 NABC Guardians of the Game pillar awards are: for Leadership, NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt; for Service, Edgewood Director of Basketball Operations Mike Shult; for Education, North Carolina Central coach LeVelle Moton; for Advocacy, Ohio Wesleyan coach Mike DeWitt; and for Inclusion, Loyola Maryland coach Tavaras Hardy.
“Guardians of the Game is more than a slogan for NABC members – it’s a way of life,” said NABC Executive Director Craig Robinson. “The recipients of this year’s Guardians of the Game pillar awards have each made an impact that extends far beyond the basketball court. Our sport and our communities are better because of their tireless efforts.”
NABC Guardians of the Game Award for Leadership – Dan Gavitt, NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball
Among a litany of duties, Dan Gavitt provides strategic oversight of NCAA men’s and women’s basketball and manages the NCAA’s corporate and broadcast partnerships. In 2021, amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, Gavitt led unprecedented efforts to stage every game of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship in controlled environments in and around Indianapolis. Gavitt has also helped the sport navigate various pandemic-related logistical issues the past two seasons, including the development of robust health and safety protocols.
NABC Guardians of the Game Award for Service presented by CoPeace – Mike Shult, Edgewood College Director of Basketball Operations
Mike Shult has made a lifetime of impact on Coaches vs. Cancer, the joint initiative between the NABC and the American Cancer Society that to date has raised over $140 million in the fight against cancer. Shult is a founding member of the Coaches vs. Cancer Wisconsin Board of Ambassadors – a chapter that has raised more than $8.8 million and annually holds the largest Coaches vs. Cancer Gala in the country. Shult also serves on the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network and North Region Volunteer Cabinet.
NABC Guardians of the Game Award for Education – LeVelle Moton, North Carolina Central head coach
LeVelle Moton approaches basketball as a vehicle to support academic achievement. He started the Velle Cares Foundation with the mission to serve and assist community-based organizations that promote health, education and life skills for children and families in at-risk situations. Among the Foundation’s many initiatives is the annual “Back to School Community Day” event, which provides kids and families with book bags and school supplies to prepare them for academic excellence. Moton also holds a master’s degree in special education with a focus on learning disabilities.
NABC Guardians of the Game Award for Advocacy presented by CoPeace – Mike DeWitt, Ohio Wesleyan head coach
Mike DeWitt has been an instrumental voice in Division III basketball during his 23 years on the Ohio Wesleyan sidelines, serving terms on the NCAA DIII Men’s Basketball Regional Advisory Committee and DIII Men’s Basketball Selection Committee. In the 2012-13 season, DeWitt was chair of the selection committee, leading the group’s oversight of the selection process and championship operations.
NABC Guardians of the Game Award for Inclusion – Tavaras Hardy, Loyola Maryland head coach
Tavaras Hardy has become a leading advocate for diversity and inclusion in college basketball. His commitment to the cause is reflected in the composition of his Loyola staff: assistant Corin Adams and director of operations Sydney Hines are among the still-too-few women who hold full-time positions on men’s coaching staffs. He has also been an active participant in numerous NABC Committee on Racial Reconciliation initiatives throughout the last two years.
