INDIANA – Bob Knight, the sixth-winningest coach in Division I men’s college basketball history whose Hall of Fame career was highlighted by three national titles at Indiana – one an undefeated season not since matched — and countless on-court outbursts, died Wednesday, according to his family.
He was 83.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share that Coach Bob Knight passed away at his home in Bloomington surrounded by his family,” a statement by Knight’s loved ones said. “We are grateful for all the thoughts and prayers, and appreciate the continued respect for our privacy as Coach requested a private family gathering, which is being honored.”
“We will continue to celebrate his life and remember him, today and forever as a beloved Husband, Father, Coach, and Friend.”
“Coach Robert Montgomery Knight was a towering basketball figure and fighter, second to none,” said Governor Eric Holcomb. “As a National Champion he became synonymous with our state and what Hoosiers are all about: hard work, practice makes perfect, teamwork, and a commitment to excellence. His teams were built around student-athletes and his influence prepared them for life after the ball stopped bouncing. There will never be another Coach Knight and the banners that hang in Assembly Hall will forever remind us of his time, impact, and dominance. When Indiana builds our Mount Rushmore of Basketball, The General will surely be on it.”
Knight – “The General” – became the youngest coach at a Division I school in 1965 when he broke in at Army at 24. But he made his mark in 29 years at Indiana, including winning a school-record 661 games and reaching the NCAA tournament 24 times in 29 seasons. Knight’s first NCAA title came in 1976 when Indiana went undefeated, a feat no team has accomplished since.
In 1984, he coached the U.S. Olympic team to a gold medal in Los Angeles, the last American amateur team to claim Olympic gold. Knight won 20 or more games in 29 seasons, compiling a career record of 902-371.
Knight was a three-time champion as the Hoosiers’ head coach winning it all in 1976, 1981, and 1987. He also went to the Final Four five times during his time in Bloomington.
This Feb. 23, 1985, file photo shows Indiana coach Bob Knight winding up and pitching a chair across the floor during Indiana’s 72-63 loss to Purdue, in Bloomington, Ind. Knight and Ralph Sampson are among the eight members of the Class of 2011 of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. AP FILE
Knight was elected and inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991. Previously, Knight had asked not to be renominated to the Hall of Fame, calling the voters’ rejection of him in 1987 a “slap in the face.”
Knight was eventually forced out at Indiana in 2000 for violating a “zero tolerance” behavior policy by grabbing the arm of a freshman student who he said greeted him by his last name. It was the final transgression on a long list, which included his most infamous incident – throwing a chair during a Purdue game and accusations of numerous physical confrontations.
Knight’s time in Bloomington ended in controversy after he was captured on video choking former player Neil Reed in 1997, the school implemented a zero-tolerance policy toward the coach … and he was fired after student Kent Harvey accused Bobby of grabbing him by the arm for referring to him as “Knight.”
Knight then left to become the basketball coach at Texas Tech in 2001, six months after being fired by Indiana for what school officials there called a “pattern of unacceptable behavior.”
In Knight’s six full years at Tech, he led the Red Raiders to five 20-win seasons, a first at the school. Knight passed former North Carolina coach Dean Smith as the then-winningest Division I men’s coach on Jan. 1, 2007, getting career win No. 880. To celebrate the milestone Knight chose the song “My Way” by Frank Sinatra, a mantra for how he navigated his personal and professional worlds.
He retired from Texas Tech in 2008 and his son, Pat, took the reins.
Knight coached several future NBA stars during his career including Isiah Thomas and Mike Woodson.
After retirement, Bobby worked for ESPN as an analyst until 2015.
What he did and how he did it made Knight legend. However, the influence and discipline he brought to coaching made him special. He never broke NCAA rules. He always had a high graduation rate and gave his salary back a few years after he arrived in Lubbock because he didn’t think he’d earned it.
Robert Montgomery Knight was born on Oct. 25, 1940, in Orrville, Ohio, and was a prep basketball, baseball, and football star at Orrville High School. While a player at Ohio State, his teams compiled an overall record of 78-6. The Buckeyes won the national title in 1960 (Knight was 0-for-1 with one personal foul in a 75-55 win over California in the title game and averaged 3.7 points as a sub that season), and captured Big Ten titles during all three of Knight’s seasons.
In 2019, Knight made a surprise appearance at an Indiana baseball game. In July, he bought a house 3 miles from the basketball arena.
In February 2020, he returned to Assembly Hall for an Indiana-Purdue, game. He was met with roars of approval from the sold-out crowd, including dozens of former players.
Knight was hospitalized back in April with an “acute illness” and the Indiana program asked his supporters to pray for him. No additional details were shared.
According to the family, in lieu of flowers, people should please consider honoring Knight with a memorial contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association or Marian University in Indianapolis.
“Donations to any charity in his name are also appreciated,” the family ended their post.
