Advertisement

Indiana, Mike Krzyzewski join college basketball world in mourning Bob Knight

Jason Owens
Staff writer
·5 min read
254

Hall of Fame Basketball coach Bob Knight died Wednesday at 83 years old.

A giant of the game who led Indiana to three national championships, Knight was known for his 902 NCAA coaching wins (sixth all time), as well as his temper and myriad controversies.

No matter one's thoughts on Knight, his impact on the game can't be denied. His death prompted mourning from the college basketball world Wednesday, including from Indiana, Texas Tech and Army, where he started his head-coaching career.

Knight coached Indiana from 1971 to 2000, and he won national championships in 1976, 1981 and 1987. His 1975-76 Hoosiers remain the last men's team to finish the season undefeated. Indiana described Knight on Wednesday as "one of the most successful & influential figures in the history of college basketball" alongside a video tribute and obituary.

Indiana held a moment of silence and paid tribute to Knight on the video board Wednesday at Assembly Hall before tipoff of a women's basketball exhibition.

Flowers were placed outside Assembly Hall in honor of Knight.

A folding chair was later placed at the makeshift memorial in a nod to one of Knight's more infamous moments.

Indiana's obituary noted that "Knight's student-athletes also embodied what it meant to be a student-athlete." It did not mention his firing in 2000 for what then-Indiana president Myles Brand described as breaking a "zero-tolerance policy" following "a pattern of inappropriate behavior."

Bob Knight coached Indiana to three national championships. (John Biever /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
Bob Knight coached Indiana to three national championships. (John Biever /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

A three-year player as a forward at Ohio State, Knight started his head-coaching career with Army in 1965 after two years as an assistant. He led the program for six years, a stint that included coaching and mentoring future Duke Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski.

On Wednesday, Army posted an image of Knight and Krzyzewski from their time together at West Point.

Krzyzewski released his own tribute Wednesday, describing Knight as "one of the greatest coaches in the history of college basketball."

After his exit from Indiana, Knight returned to college coaching with Texas Tech in 2001. He spent seven seasons with the Red Raiders and led them to four NCAA tournament appearances.

Texas Tech wrote on social media Wednesday that "Coach Knight's impact on our basketball program will forever be cherished as one of the greatest tenures in our history."

Ohio State posted an image of Knight as a player on social media, mourning the loss of "a legend of college basketball."

Media members and institutions who covered and worked with Knight over the years paid tribute as well.

This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.