Former Georgetown men's basketball star Dikembe Mutumbo was recently named a winner of the President's Service Award, the highest honor in the U.S. for volunteer service. While the membership has increased, the focus of the BIG EAST remains unchanged. It is a group that reflects a tradition of broad-based programs, led by administrators and coaches who place a constant emphasis on academic integrity. The BIG EAST Conference has enjoyed a leadership role nationally. Its student-athletes own significantly high graduation rates and their record of scholastic achievement notably reflects a balance between intercollegiate athletics and academics.
Any successful consortium enjoys outstanding leadership.
Michael Tranghese, the league's first full-time employee, and for 11 years the associate of Dave Gavitt, took over the Commissioner's reins in June, 1990. The expansion in membership is only a portion of Tranghese's achievements. In his first year at the helm, he administered the formation of The BIG EAST Football Conference in addition to coordinating the four expansions. BIG EAST sports attract the interest of followers in the nation's largest media markets including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., Miami, Pittsburgh and Hartford. The league has long been considered a leader in innovative concepts in promotion and publicity, particularly regarding television.