Bob Knight

For the pro basketball player, see Bob Knight (basketball, born 1929). For other people named Bob Knight, see Bob Knight (disambiguation).

Bob Knight
Knight watches Texas Tech practice in 2007
Biographical details
Born(1940-10-25)October 25, 1940
Massillon, Ohio, U.S.
DiedNovember 1, 2023(2023-11-01) (aged 83)
Bloomington, Indiana, U.S.
Playing career
1959–1962Ohio State
Position(s)Forward
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1962–1963Cuyahoga Falls HS (assistant)
1963–1965Army (assistant)
1965–1971Army
1971–2000Indiana
2001–2008Texas Tech
Head coaching record
Overall902–371 (.709)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
As player:
As head coach:
Awards
Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1991
College Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2006
Medal record
Head Coach for  United States
Men's national basketball team
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1979 San Juan Men's Basketball
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1984 Los Angeles Men's Basketball

Robert Montgomery Knight (October 25, 1940 – November 1, 2023) was an American men's college basketball coach. Often referred to as Bobby Knight and nicknamed "the General", he won 902 NCAA Division I men's basketball games, a record at the time of his retirement and sixth all-time record at the time of his death.[1]

Knight was the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers from 1971 to 2000. He also coached the Texas Tech Red Raiders (2001–2008) and Army Black Knights (1965–1971).[2] He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991.

While at Army, Knight led the Black Knights to four post-season tournament appearances in six seasons, winning two-thirds of his games along the way. After taking the job at Indiana, his teams won three NCAA championships, one National Invitation Tournament (NIT) championship, and 11 Big Ten Conference championships.[3] His 1975–76 team won the 1976 NCAA tournament, and is the last men's team in Division I college basketball to go undefeated during an entire season (32–0). They remain, as of the end of the 2023–24 season, the last team to be undefeated national champions.

Knight sparked controversy with his outspoken nature and his volatility. He once threw a chair across the court during a game and was ejected, was once arrested following a physical confrontation with a police officer,[4] and engaged in verbal conflicts with members of the press.[5] After Knight was accused of choking an Indiana player during practice in an incident that was recorded on video,[6][7] the university instituted a "zero tolerance" policy specifically for Knight. Following a subsequent run-in with a student, Knight was fired in the fall of 2000.[8] He went on to coach at Texas Tech, mostly without incident, from 2001 to 2008. In the seven full seasons that Knight coached the Red Raiders, his teams qualified for a post-season tournament five times. He retired partway through the 2007–2008 season and was replaced by his son Pat Knight at Texas Tech. Knight remains "the object of near fanatical devotion" from many of his former players and Indiana fans.[9]

Knight was also successful on the international stage, winning gold medal at both the 1979 Pan American Games and the 1984 Summer Olympics with the U.S. men's national team, and becoming one of only three basketball coaches to win an NCAA title, an NIT title, and an Olympic gold medal.

In 2008, Knight joined ESPN as a men's college basketball studio analyst during Championship Week and for coverage of the NCAA Tournament.[10] He continued covering college basketball for ESPN through the 2014–15 season.[11]

Knight was one of college basketball's most successful and innovative coaches, having popularized the motion offense. He received national coach of the year honors four times and Big Ten Coach of the Year honors eight times.

  1. ^ "Men's DI college basketball coaches with the most wins | NCAA.com". ncaa.com. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  2. ^ Walker, Jeff (February 4, 2008). "Exclusive: Knight speaks about retirement decision". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Archived from the original on February 7, 2008. Retrieved February 4, 2008.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Weber-2023 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "ESPN Classic Sportscentury Biography". ESPN. Archived from the original on July 31, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
  5. ^ "Pat Knight to mine for players in Indiana". NBC Sports. February 15, 2008. Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference www2.indystar.com was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Fired was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Indiana University Fires Knight". ABC News. Archived from the original on January 15, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  9. ^ "A dark side of Knight". Sports Illustrated. September 10, 2000. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
  10. ^ "Bob Knight joins ESPN for Championship Week and NCAA Tournament". ESPN. February 29, 2008. Archived from the original on September 22, 2008. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
  11. ^ "Source: ESPN will not renew contract of college hoops analyst Bob Knight". Sports Illustrated. April 2, 2015. Archived from the original on October 15, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2015.