How did Bobby Knight die?
We lost the hall of fame Basketball Coach!
His death was announced on his website! He had been ill for a number of years and was admitted to the hospital in April. The statement read,
"Coach Bob Knight passed away at his home in Bloomington, surrounded by his family, with heavy hearts that we share."
Watch Video on Remembering Bob Knight
Coaches, Players on the Passing of Legendary Indiana Coach
Coaches, Players on the Passing of Legendary Indiana Coach
Who was Bobby Knight?
Bobby Knight was a legendary college basketball coach known for Trophies and Tantrums, led Indiana University to victory in 902 games and three NCAA titles.
In a sad turn of events, legendary basketball coach Bob Knight, celebrated for his Hall of Fame career, which featured three national titles at Indiana University and a legacy filled with unforgettable moments, has passed away at the age of 83.
Knight's family released a statement on Wednesday night, confirming his passing. The coach had been dealing with health issues for several years and was hospitalized due to an illness in April.
The statement read,
"It is with heavy hearts that we share that Coach Bob Knight passed away at his home in Bloomington surrounded by his family. 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."
Bob Knight's journey in basketball began in 1965 when he became the youngest Division I school coach at Army, at the age of 24. However, it was at Indiana University where he left an indelible mark, accumulating a school-record 661 wins and an impressive 24 NCAA tournament appearances in 29 seasons. His crowning achievement came in 1976 when he guided Indiana to an undefeated season, a feat that remains unmatched to this day.
Quinn Buckner, chair of the Indiana University board of trustees and a member of Knight's 1976 championship team, reminisced, saying,
"One of the things that he said to our 1976 team, which I was fortunate enough to be a part of, was that you may never see another team like this again. Well, I don't know that we will ever see another coach like him again."
Throughout his illustrious career, Knight notched 20 or more wins in a season an astonishing 29 times, amassing a career record of 902-371. In 1984, he led the U.S. Olympic team to a gold medal, a squad that included the likes of Steve Alford, a key figure on Knight's 1987 national championship team.
Former Hoosiers player and current Indiana coach Mike Woodson expressed his gratitude, saying,
"I am so blessed that he saw something in me as a basketball player. He influenced my life in ways I could never repay. As he did with all of his players, he always challenged me to get the most out of myself as a player and more importantly, as a person. His record as a basketball coach speaks for itself. He will be remembered as one of the greatest ever."
Nicknamed "The General," Knight's career was not without controversy. He was forced to leave Indiana in 2000 for violating a "zero tolerance" behavior policy after grabbing a student's arm. His most infamous incident involved throwing a chair during a Purdue game and accusations of physical confrontations, including an incident where he appeared to choke player Neil Reed during practice in 1997.
In 2001, Knight began a new chapter as the basketball coach at Texas Tech. There, he achieved numerous milestones, including surpassing Dean Smith to become the winningest Division I men's coach in 2007 with 880 career victories.
Reflecting on his career, Knight quoted the Frank Sinatra song "My Way," explaining,
"I've simply tried to do what I think is best. Regrets? Sure. Just like the song. I have regrets. I wish I could have done things better at times. I wish I would have had a better answer, a better way, at times. But just like he said, I did it my way, and when I look back on it, I don't think my way was all that bad."
Knight retired as Texas Tech's coach in the middle of the 2008-09 season after 42 years as a head coach and transitioned into a role as a college basketball analyst for ESPN.
Texas Tech Athletics paid tribute to Knight, saying, "Coach Knight ... will forever be remembered as one of the top coaches in not only Texas Tech history but all of college basketball. He truly changed the game with not only his motion offense but his insistence that his teams be defined by their defense."
Knight's influence extended beyond the court, as he was a strong advocate for student-athletes receiving a quality education, consistently achieving high graduation rates among his players.
Reflecting on his passing, former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who played for Knight at Army and later surpassed him as the winningest Division I college basketball coach, said, "We lost one of the greatest coaches in the history of basketball today. Clearly, he was one of a kind."
Bob Knight's basketball journey began in Massillon, Ohio, on October 25, 1940. As a player at Ohio State, he helped his team secure the national title in 1960 and was known for his excellence in basketball, baseball, and football during his time at Orrville High School.
Knight's impact as a coach started at Army, where he served as an assistant before being promoted to head coach, achieving a 102-50 record during his tenure from 1965 to 1971. He later moved to Indiana, where his Hoosiers amassed an impressive 662-239 record from 1971 to 2000, securing national titles in 1976, 1981, and 1987.
Knight's coaching career spanned five decades, and he faced and often defeated some of the sport's most renowned names, including Adolph Rupp, Dean Smith, and John Wooden in the early years, and Mike Krzyzewski, Rick Pitino, and Roy Williams in the later years.
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr shared a memorable encounter with Coach Knight, recalling a passionate conversation during a world championship game in 1986. Kerr remarked,
"He was terrifying, I'm not going to lie."
Bob Knight was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991, and though he initially refused to be renominated after a rejection in 1987, he remained a respected figure in the basketball world. While he had numerous outbursts and controversies throughout his career, Knight adhered to NCAA rules, maintained high graduation rates, and even returned his Texas Tech salary because he believed he hadn't earned it.
Knight's departure from Indiana University, orchestrated by then-president Myles Brand, remained a contentious issue in the state of Indiana, where he still had a devoted following. Over the years, efforts were made to reconcile with Knight, but he resisted all attempts, avoiding IU activities and ceremonies.
However, a change occurred in recent years. In 2019, he made a surprise appearance at an Indiana baseball game, and in July, he purchased a home in Bloomington, just three miles from the basketball arena. In February 2020, Knight returned to Assembly Hall for an Indiana-Purdue game, where he was met with enthusiastic applause from the sold-out crowd, including numerous former players.
Bob Knight is survived by his wife, Karen, and sons, Tim and Pat. His impact on the game of basketball, along with his complex and legendary career, will be remembered for generations to come.
