Former Indiana head coach Bob Knight (1971-2000) is a legend in college basketball. He will always be remembered for getting the job done on the court and how he handled situations. Today marks the 10-year anniversary of Knight’s firing.
He ran a straight-edge, high-class basketball program. He was a coach that followed the rules in regard to the NCAA and running a clean program. His players graduated from school and went on to be successful. There are many successful doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs and more that learned so much under Knight. The one incredible thing about Coach Knight’s players, is that they are all extremely loyal.
He was the king of the motion offense that he stressed for those 29 years at Indiana. The sweater vest was his fashion of choice…still to this day.
The “chair” is one of my favorite Knight memories. Although I didn’t see live, it never gets old…to make it even more memorable, it was against Purdue.
His credentials tell it all. At Indiana, Coach Knight was 661–240. An overall record of 902–371.
Robert Montgomery Knight led the last men’s college basketball team to an undefeated season. The Hoosiers won all 32 games in 1976 on their way to the school’s third national championship. His teams went 63-1 in the 1975 and 1976 seasons combined.
Indiana then won another national title in 1981 and 1987. Knight reached the final four—five times and coached the 1984 Olympic team. He was named the Naismith College Coach of the Year in 1987, and was the Big Ten Coach of the Year six times. Add to that, 11 Big Ten regular season championships and he has hall-of-fame numbers.
Knight lived on the hot seat. His attitude and in your face mentality was well documented. He was no stranger to technical fouls. Things got even more testy at IU beginning in April of 2000 when a video was released of Knight choking former player Neil Reed.
In May of that year, former Indiana University president and NCAA president, the late Myles Brand announced that he had adopted a “zero tolerance” policy with regard to Bob Knight’s behavior. That would last just five months.
Brand fired Coach Knight on September 10, 2010 for a continuing pattern of “defiant and hostile” behavior.
In 2008, Coach Knight joined ESPN as a studio analyst for the NCAA tournament. He immediately grabbed ratings and so the network signed him on as a color commentator for the next season.
There were good times…and of course there were bad times. Sure he will be known for throwing tantrums but even more so for taking care of business on the court. Today, a decade later, let’s celebrate all Coach Knight contributed to Indiana basketball. Truly, a tradition unlike any other. Hoosier Nation anxiously awaits coach’s return to Bloomington—to celebrate all he did and the impact he made…when he is ready.
The firing was a complete surprise. Who would have thought Brand had the balls to call him out and fire him. it’s too bad it came to that.
Never was much of a Knight fan, but, he ran a good program, graduated student athletes, didn’t candy coat things and cultivated boys into men. I had the chance to meet him as a regular guy working in a hotel the team was staying in before a game. He impressed me.
Nice Article Scott !
I was brushing my teeth in the Frat house bathroom 10 years ago, when I first saw the enormous parade of students walking down Fee lane toward Myles Brands House….That was something…
I’m not that old but this seems like it was such a long time ago. Hopefully Fred Glass can get him to return soon. He must be honored.