Bob Knight has passed away. His Hall of Fame career was capped by three national titles at Indiana, one of which ended an unbeaten season that has never been topped, as well as numerous on-court outbursts. 83 years old.
The news was released by Knight’s family on Wednesday evening. He had been ailing for a number of years and was admitted to the hospital in April.
“It is with heavy hearts that we have to share that Coach Bob Knight passed suddenly at his home in Bloomington accompanied by his family,” a statement read. “We are grateful for every thought and prayer, & appreciate the ongoing respect for our privacy as Coach asked a private family gathering, that is being honored.”
In 1965, Knight broke in at the Army at the age of 24, becoming the youngest coach at a Division I university. Nonetheless, he left his imprint over his 29 years at Indiana, setting a school record with 661 victories and 24 trips to the NCAA tournament in 29 seasons. Indiana’s unbeaten season in 1976 brought Knight his first NCAA title—a feat no other team has since duplicated.
In a statement, Indiana Board of Trustees chair Quinn Buckner stated, “One of the things that he stated to our 1976 team, that I was fortunate enough to be a participant of, was that you might never see another team like this again.” “Well, I am uncertain that we will ever encounter another coach like him again.”
Knight had a career record of 902-371 after winning 20 games or more in 29 seasons. He was the coach of the last American amateur team to win an Olympic gold medal in 1984 when they competed in Los Angeles. It was not unexpected that it was met with opposition. Knight removed players like future Hall of Famers Charles Barkley and John Stockton, but he maintained Steve Alford, the captain of his 1987 squad that won its final national championship.
Knight had a career record of 902-371 after winning 20 games or more in 29 seasons. He was the coach of the last American amateur team to win an Olympic gold medal in 1984 when they competed in Los Angeles. It was not unexpected that it was met with opposition. Knight removed players like future Hall of Famers Charles Barkley and John Stockton, but he maintained Steve Alford, the captain of his 1987 squad that won its final national championship.
After being dubbed “The General,” Knight was ultimately expelled from Indiana University in 2000 for allegedly grasping the arm of a freshman who had addressed him by last name in violation of a “zero tolerance” behavior guideline. It was the last in a lengthy list of offenses that includes his most well-known moment—throwing a chair during a Purdue game—and claims of other violent altercations.
The most famous one occurred in 1997 when Knight seemed to choke player Neil Reed during a drill.
Six months after being sacked by Indiana for a “pattern of unacceptable behavior,” Knight subsequently moved on to take a job as the basketball coach at Texas Tech in 2001.
Knight guided the Red Raiders to five 20-win seasons over his six years at Tech, a first for the program. On January 1, 2007, Knight achieved career win No. 880, surpassing former North Carolina coach Dean Smith as the most successful Division I men’s coach at the time. Knight selected Frank Sinatra’s song “My Way” to mark the occasion since it served as his slogan for navigating both his personal and professional lives.
Knight elucidated the significance of “My Way” at the time.
Knight remarked, “I’ve just tried to do what I think is best.” “Apologies? Yes. similar to the tune. I regret things. There are instances when I wish I could have performed better. Sometimes I wish I had come up with a better response, a better solution. However, as he mentioned, I handled things my way, and looking back, I don’t believe it was all that horrible.”
In the midst of his 42nd season as head coach, Knight stepped down from his position as Texas Tech’s basketball coach and left the collegiate ranks. Later on, he was an ESPN college basketball analyst.
According to Texas Tech Athletics, “Coach Knight… will always be remembered as one of the greatest coaches in not just Texas Tech history but all of college basketball.” In addition to his fluid offense, he insisted that his teams’ defense define them, which really altered the nature of the game.
His influence extended beyond the court, as he was a strong advocate for student-athletes to obtain a top-notch education, as demonstrated by his teams’ yearly near-perfect graduation rate. We will always respect Coach Knight’s influence on our basketball program as one of the best in our program’s history.”
Knight became a legend as a result of his actions and methods. But what set him apart was the discipline and impact he brought to coaching.
“Today we lost one of the best basketball coaches in history. He was undoubtedly unique, according to former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who succeeded his mentor as the most successful Division I college basketball coach in 2011 after playing for Knight at Army. “Coach Knight greatly influenced both my career and personal life. He helped me get a job and served as a mentor.” His demise has left our sport with a great loss, and our family is very sorry.”
Robert Montgomery Knight, a prep basketball, baseball, and football player at Orrville High School, was born in Orrville, Ohio, on October 25, 1940. During his playing career at Ohio State, his teams amassed a 78-6 record overall. In 1960, the Buckeyes won the Big Ten title in each of Knight’s three seasons, and they also won the national championship (Knight finished 0-for-1 with one personal foul in the team’s 75-55 victory over California in the championship game).
Following graduation, he entered coaching and served as Tates Locke’s assistant in the Army until he was promoted to head coach.
Knight played for the Army for six years (1965–1971), finishing 102–50. He subsequently relocated to Indiana, where his Hoosiers finished 662-239 from 1971–1900. There, in 1976, ’81, and ’87, he won national crowns while sporting his signature red sweater.
Over the course of five decades, Knight faced off against and typically defeated some of the most illustrious figures in the sport, including Adolph Rupp, Smith, and John Wooden in the early going and Krzyzewski, Rick Pitino, and Roy Williams in the later years.
Coach Tom Izzo of Michigan State stated of Bobby Knight, “He was a guy I admired when I got here (in 1983).” “He helped me and gave me excellent treatment. I wish more people were aware of his wonderful heart. He was a different guy, yet he would answer the bell if you needed assistance. One of the game’s icons is gone.”
Before his team’s game on Wednesday night, Warriors coach Steve Kerr talked to media about his first meeting with the explosive coach.
“I was participating in the world championship when we happened to cross paths in 1986. Kerr said, “He was commentating on television.” He approached me at practice after we had lost a game, and he essentially launched into a tirade. He was a new acquaintance of mine. “I want you to take these bleeping bleep teammates you have and tell them to bleep bleep,” he stated. And I said, “Coach Knight, yes, sir.” I went over to the guys and told them, “Hey, Coach Knight just told us to play well tonight.” It ended there. Truthfully, I won’t lie—he was terrified.”
In 1991, Knight was chosen and admitted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Knight had previously requested not to be considered for the Hall of Fame again, referring to the voters’ 1987 rejection of him as a “slap in the face.”
He was a complicated package with a long history of angry outbursts. He was accused of putting his hands around a player’s neck, head-butted Indiana participant Sherron Wilkerson while yelling at him on the bench, and kicking his own son—Knight maintained that he had actually kicked the chair his son was sitting on. He was charged and ultimately found guilty of these incidents.
During a 1992 NCAA West Regional practice, he also mock-whipped Black Indiana player Calbert Cheaney, which infuriated a number of Black leaders. Knight stated that the bullwhip was provided to him by the team and refuted any racial overtones.
However, he never disregarded NCAA regulations. His graduation rate was always high, and he returned his pay to Lubbock a few years after arriving, claiming he had not merited it.
The removal of Knight by Indiana president Myles Brand, who was at the time still quite popular in the state, did not sit well with Knight’s followers.
Over the years, Indiana officials tried to patch things up with the man who helped the Hoosiers win a school record 661 games, but Knight adamantly rejected all of their efforts, as well as those of former players and supporters, to reach a settlement and refused to take part in any IU-related events.
He avoided class reunions and even turned down an invitation to the school’s 2009 Athletic Hall of Fame induction, claiming his presence would have been a distraction to his fellow alumni.
All of that, however, altered recently.
When he made an unexpected appearance at an Indiana baseball game in 2019, the thaw officially started. He purchased a home three miles from the basketball court in July.
He eventually made his way back to Assembly Hall for an Indiana-Purdue game in February 2020. There was thunderous applause for him from the full house, which included several former players.
Knight and his son Pat entered. He gave Isiah Thomas a hug. Quinn Buckner escorted him into the arena. Knight was ecstatic with the situation, raising his fist in the air, directing Scott May in a mock drill, and even rallying supporters with the cry “De-fense, de-fense.”
During the reunion, former player Randy Wittman played a significant role. “I was standing there, while he was coach Knight,” Wittman recounted. It appeared as though he hadn’t left the changing area. It was amazing what he said to the players before they took the court.”
Tim and Pat, his sons, and his wife Karen survive Knight.