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Bob Knight has resigned as Texas Tech men's basketball coach
Bob Knight resigned Monday at Texas Tech, a stunning midseason move by the winningest men's coach in major college basketball.
"He said he was tired and that it was best to go ahead and do it now," Texas Tech chancellor Kent Hance told The Associated Press. "I think Bob is through with coaching. I think he got to the point where it wasn't fun for him."
... The Red Raiders beat Oklahoma State 67-60 on Saturday, giving Knight his 902nd victory. He won national titles at Indiana in 1976, '81 and '87.
... In September, Knight signed a three-year contract extension that runs through the 2011-12 season. In 2005, Pat Knight was appointed his father's successor.
Knight arrived at Texas Tech in March 2001, six months after being fired by Indiana for what school officials there called a "pattern of unacceptable behavior."
In his first six years at Tech, he led the Red Raiders to five 20-win seasons, a first at the school. They are 12-8 this season, including Knight's 900th victory last month against Texas A&M.
... Knight passed former North Carolina coach Dean Smith as the winningest Division I coach Jan. 1, 2007, getting career win No. 880. To celebrate the milestone Knight chose "My Way" by Frank Sinatra, a mantra for how he navigated his personal and professional worlds.
... "I've simply tried to do what I think is best," Knight said. "Regrets? Sure. Just like the song. I have regrets. I wish I could 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 has been a college coach for 42 years. He broke in at Army in 1965, but made his mark in 29 years at Indiana.
He's a complex package, someone who can hit a policeman, throw a chair across the court or be accused of wrapping his hands around a player's neck, yet never gets in trouble for breaking NCAA rules, always has high a graduation rate and gave his salary back a few years ago because he didn't think he'd earned it.
"Maybe he thought it was the right time for Pat and give him a shot," former Temple coach John Chaney said.
Knight got his 100th victory at Army, then moved to Indiana, where his Hoosiers went 662-239 from 1971-2000.
His 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.
When he began his coaching career at Army, he was 24, the youngest-ever Division I coach. Knight won 20 or more games in 29 seasons. s in 29 seasons.
http://www.nbcsports.com/portal/site/nb ... c1d240RCRD
"He said he was tired and that it was best to go ahead and do it now," Texas Tech chancellor Kent Hance told The Associated Press. "I think Bob is through with coaching. I think he got to the point where it wasn't fun for him."
... The Red Raiders beat Oklahoma State 67-60 on Saturday, giving Knight his 902nd victory. He won national titles at Indiana in 1976, '81 and '87.
... In September, Knight signed a three-year contract extension that runs through the 2011-12 season. In 2005, Pat Knight was appointed his father's successor.
Knight arrived at Texas Tech in March 2001, six months after being fired by Indiana for what school officials there called a "pattern of unacceptable behavior."
In his first six years at Tech, he led the Red Raiders to five 20-win seasons, a first at the school. They are 12-8 this season, including Knight's 900th victory last month against Texas A&M.
... Knight passed former North Carolina coach Dean Smith as the winningest Division I coach Jan. 1, 2007, getting career win No. 880. To celebrate the milestone Knight chose "My Way" by Frank Sinatra, a mantra for how he navigated his personal and professional worlds.
... "I've simply tried to do what I think is best," Knight said. "Regrets? Sure. Just like the song. I have regrets. I wish I could 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 has been a college coach for 42 years. He broke in at Army in 1965, but made his mark in 29 years at Indiana.
He's a complex package, someone who can hit a policeman, throw a chair across the court or be accused of wrapping his hands around a player's neck, yet never gets in trouble for breaking NCAA rules, always has high a graduation rate and gave his salary back a few years ago because he didn't think he'd earned it.
"Maybe he thought it was the right time for Pat and give him a shot," former Temple coach John Chaney said.
Knight got his 100th victory at Army, then moved to Indiana, where his Hoosiers went 662-239 from 1971-2000.
His 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.
When he began his coaching career at Army, he was 24, the youngest-ever Division I coach. Knight won 20 or more games in 29 seasons. s in 29 seasons.
http://www.nbcsports.com/portal/site/nb ... c1d240RCRD
As an IU fan, I honestly don't care. His run at Texas Tech meant nothing aside from him breaking the wins record and they couldn't even sell out the stadium for that. He did great things at Indiana and will always be a legend here. He's also an asshole. People around here are too blind to realize that from the time Damon Bailey graduated till when he got fired, he had underachieving teams that were 1 and done in the tourney or lost in the 2nd round and much like Mike Davis, he wasn't getting the stud in state players to stay
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Yankees
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Ugh - this is the attitude that single-handedly turned college sports into a corporate machine. Who gives a shit that Knight graduated his players? Who gives a crap that he produced a ton of NBA players? Who cares that he helped his players get jobs after graduation if basketball wasn't their first choice? Who cares that he produced an insane amount of head coaches from the graduate students that he would take in? Who cares that 99.9% of his former players speaking nothing but glowingly about him?
He didn't win. Because that's truly the goal of intercollegiate athletics, right? Not to get kids an opportunity to receive a free education. Not to make sure the kids take advantage of that opportunity. Not to give opportunities to players and students that graduated who want to continue their career in basketball.
It's to win. It's to feed the machine. It's to figure out what sponsors he brings back to the school. It's to hang another banner up on the wall. It's to win regardless of the casualties of students you leave in your wake.
Bob Knight never had a recruiting violation. He graduated 90% of his players (with the majority of others leaving school for the NBA early). He left the Army, Indiana, and Texas Tech program's markedly better then they were when he got there. He also messed up a few very public times.
But 99% of the time he did it the right way, and he's the reason the Bob Huggins', Jim Harrick's, etc. make me physically ill.
He didn't win. Because that's truly the goal of intercollegiate athletics, right? Not to get kids an opportunity to receive a free education. Not to make sure the kids take advantage of that opportunity. Not to give opportunities to players and students that graduated who want to continue their career in basketball.
It's to win. It's to feed the machine. It's to figure out what sponsors he brings back to the school. It's to hang another banner up on the wall. It's to win regardless of the casualties of students you leave in your wake.
Bob Knight never had a recruiting violation. He graduated 90% of his players (with the majority of others leaving school for the NBA early). He left the Army, Indiana, and Texas Tech program's markedly better then they were when he got there. He also messed up a few very public times.
But 99% of the time he did it the right way, and he's the reason the Bob Huggins', Jim Harrick's, etc. make me physically ill.
Z, I was talking about his production on the court. There's no doubt that his impact on his players off the court, with graduation rates and stuff, are among the best ever. He has the kind of loyalty from former players that I've never seen before. BUT, as an IU basketball fan, 1994-2000 were hard. He stopped getting top talent, got upset in the tourney every year just about and became more and more hostile to the media. He thought he was bigger than IU basketball and that everyone would abandon the program when he got fired. Didn't happen
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Yankees
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Isn't it possible to think that he just simply rose above the corruptness that had infiltrated the game? College basketball corruptness was like steroids in baseball throughout the 90's. Most everyone was doing it, very few people got caught.
Knight made it known that was never going to be how he did it. Maybe he missed out on players because he refused to pay them? He showed at Texas Tech that he could still win college basketball games. Popular rumor has it that the boosters at Indiana simply wanted him out because he would not pay for the top talent in and out of the state, and were looking for any reason to do it.
The validity of that is obviously forever in question. But the fact that that was even talked about proves my point. It wasn't enough to recruit good kids, who played hard, who consistently made the NCAA tournament, and who graduated.
I'm guilty of the fact that I sit here and cheer the fact that UCONN has the #12 recruit in the country coming in next year. What on earth do I know about this kid? At this point I can only root that he goes to UCONN for 2 years, plays well, and doesn't cause trouble. That doesn't make me feel good to write. Wherever Bob Knight has gone, at the end of the day, you can say he recruited good kids, who graduated, and had a career - whether basketball or not - afterward. That should make any fan of his programs proud to say.
Knight made it known that was never going to be how he did it. Maybe he missed out on players because he refused to pay them? He showed at Texas Tech that he could still win college basketball games. Popular rumor has it that the boosters at Indiana simply wanted him out because he would not pay for the top talent in and out of the state, and were looking for any reason to do it.
The validity of that is obviously forever in question. But the fact that that was even talked about proves my point. It wasn't enough to recruit good kids, who played hard, who consistently made the NCAA tournament, and who graduated.
I'm guilty of the fact that I sit here and cheer the fact that UCONN has the #12 recruit in the country coming in next year. What on earth do I know about this kid? At this point I can only root that he goes to UCONN for 2 years, plays well, and doesn't cause trouble. That doesn't make me feel good to write. Wherever Bob Knight has gone, at the end of the day, you can say he recruited good kids, who graduated, and had a career - whether basketball or not - afterward. That should make any fan of his programs proud to say.
Bob Knight was a victim of his own stupidity sometimes, but more overall, he was a victim of the times. Things changed. When parents helped their kids decide where to go to school, when fathers wanted their kids to play under a coach who would not only improve their game, but improve them as men, they sent them to Indiana. They sent them to play for a school and a coach that was all about respect, tradition, and doing things the right way.
But then things changed. How many of the nations top recruits come from neighborhoods where every kid is fatherless? What does tradition, or improving as a person, have to do with getting to the NBA? Why go to a school and play for someone who's going to make you care about more than basketball and eventually making millions of dollars.
Bob Knight didn't forget how to coach, he just couldn't bring himself to not care.
But then things changed. How many of the nations top recruits come from neighborhoods where every kid is fatherless? What does tradition, or improving as a person, have to do with getting to the NBA? Why go to a school and play for someone who's going to make you care about more than basketball and eventually making millions of dollars.
Bob Knight didn't forget how to coach, he just couldn't bring himself to not care.
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Yankees
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Really, really well said Gabe. There are 30 NBA teams w/ 15 players on their active roster. There are 14 D-League teams w/ 15 players on their active roster. At any time there are 20 players that straddle the two. That means there's about 650 people playing in the NBA and D-League. There are, if I'm not mistaken, 315 D-I programs (including non-scholarship schools) of 12 players (minimum). That's just over 4,000 D-I basketball players in the country. Considering the fact that those 650 aren't all from the same class year, your chances of making it are absurdly small.
As Gabe so well put, that's just no longer the reality that is presented. There are a few resolute coaches who refuse to buckle and continue to do this job with the best intentions, and we just lost one of them.
As Gabe so well put, that's just no longer the reality that is presented. There are a few resolute coaches who refuse to buckle and continue to do this job with the best intentions, and we just lost one of them.
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Orioles
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I agree that, to a degree, Knight was a victim of the times. However, I'm not so sure I find his refusing to adjust so admirable. It's easy to be cynical about college athletics and just say they're all pampered no-good brats, the system is flawed, recruiting is dirty, etc. b/c there's some truth to all of that. However, I think the best coaches A) recruit players they believe will flourish as a result of their coaching style, and B) find ways to tweak their style when particular teams and players don't respond as expected.
Knight got recruits at IU because it was IU. I always thought criticism of his military style on the basis of it not being "right" to treat the players that way was unfair. Those kids chose to sign with Indiana, or Texas Tech. He's an excellent coach who at one time knew how to get talented players to buy into his approach. That time has long passed though. Either he's done a poor job of finding the most talented players who will respond to his style of coaching, or there are simply not top-level recruits who are willing to play for him because of the reputation he has created for himself. If that's the case, his unwillingness to alter his approach is a fault and a hindrance on the D-I level in a major conference.
I'm not saying coaches today need to be pushovers who accept a talented player's immaturity and adjust their style to make players happy. Take a look at Jim Calhoun. While he hasn't crossed the line to where some would call him "abusive" like Knight, he's certainly very very tough on his players. However, Calhoun has done a good job recruiting talented players who will respond to his coaching style, and I think he realizes that every kid is different and you have to know when and how to push them, and he genuinely cares about them. Caron Butler had no father figure and a lengthy criminal record, but Calhoun saw that he was the type of kid who could become a better player and person with the proper application of discipline and then trust. Earlier this season, some media members started to murmur that, as was the case with Knight, Calhoun's style was no longer effective because times had changed. Clearly that's not the case.
If you're going to have success over a very long period, you've got to be able to adjust to the changing circumstances your players are coming from. Knight has 900+ wins, so he has had prolonged success, but it seems like at some point near the end of his tenure at Indiana, the kids stopped responding the way he expected. When he was criticized for his approach he reacted in such a defiant way that it would be impossible for him to adjust his approach without seeming weak or unprincipled. At a certain point his shenanigans (especially his dealings with the media) made it seem like he was more concerned with maintaining his persona, or making a point about the media, than attending to the kids he was coaching.
Too bad that such a great and influential coach will be remembered as such a colossal asshole. Had he given the media even a glimpse of the human being behind the "general," his rep and legacy might not have suffered so much and had such a negative effect on his ability to recruit top talent.
Knight got recruits at IU because it was IU. I always thought criticism of his military style on the basis of it not being "right" to treat the players that way was unfair. Those kids chose to sign with Indiana, or Texas Tech. He's an excellent coach who at one time knew how to get talented players to buy into his approach. That time has long passed though. Either he's done a poor job of finding the most talented players who will respond to his style of coaching, or there are simply not top-level recruits who are willing to play for him because of the reputation he has created for himself. If that's the case, his unwillingness to alter his approach is a fault and a hindrance on the D-I level in a major conference.
I'm not saying coaches today need to be pushovers who accept a talented player's immaturity and adjust their style to make players happy. Take a look at Jim Calhoun. While he hasn't crossed the line to where some would call him "abusive" like Knight, he's certainly very very tough on his players. However, Calhoun has done a good job recruiting talented players who will respond to his coaching style, and I think he realizes that every kid is different and you have to know when and how to push them, and he genuinely cares about them. Caron Butler had no father figure and a lengthy criminal record, but Calhoun saw that he was the type of kid who could become a better player and person with the proper application of discipline and then trust. Earlier this season, some media members started to murmur that, as was the case with Knight, Calhoun's style was no longer effective because times had changed. Clearly that's not the case.
If you're going to have success over a very long period, you've got to be able to adjust to the changing circumstances your players are coming from. Knight has 900+ wins, so he has had prolonged success, but it seems like at some point near the end of his tenure at Indiana, the kids stopped responding the way he expected. When he was criticized for his approach he reacted in such a defiant way that it would be impossible for him to adjust his approach without seeming weak or unprincipled. At a certain point his shenanigans (especially his dealings with the media) made it seem like he was more concerned with maintaining his persona, or making a point about the media, than attending to the kids he was coaching.
Too bad that such a great and influential coach will be remembered as such a colossal asshole. Had he given the media even a glimpse of the human being behind the "general," his rep and legacy might not have suffered so much and had such a negative effect on his ability to recruit top talent.
2023 GM Totals: 1780 W - 1460 L | 0.549 wpct | 89-73 (avg 162 G record)
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Orioles
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Yeah, because nobody deserves a second chance, especially 18 year old kids.Cardinals wrote:Well, I garauntee you that if you stole laptops while playing for Bobby Knight, you'd have been off the team. Not so with Calhoun
I'd say that situation ended up pretty well for everyone. The two freshman were punished and publicly embarrassed without ruining their careers/lives, and neither has since committed any crimes (that we know of), so it appears they learned their lesson. Given how Price seems to have matured on and off the court, I'd say Calhoun and the university did a pretty good job of sending the message that their actions were unacceptable while keeping the best interests of the two kids in mind.
2023 GM Totals: 1780 W - 1460 L | 0.549 wpct | 89-73 (avg 162 G record)
I live in the heart of Hoosier country and all the Knight supporters around here are talking about this happening. It'd be like Napoleon returning from Elba. And we know how well that turned out. They have to get rid of Sampson ASAP. Let Dan Dakach run the team from here till the end of the season. That quiets all the Knight supporters and lets the team be led by an "IU guy." As soon as the season is over, hire Sean Miller away from Xavier or poach John Pelphrey, who I've been a fan of for a long time, from Arkansas. Part of me just wants Pelphrey so the coach of UK's 2 rivals are their former head coach that returned the program to glory and one of the Unforgettables that helped get them back on top
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Orioles
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I agree that Knight wouldn't be the best choice, but it would just be too good a story not to be rooting for it to happen, especially if he succeeded. Miller would be a good choice.
The two young coaches I like a lot (both obviously w/ Big East ties) are Mick Cronin at Cincinnati or Brian Kelly from Ole Miss. In both cases they're first year guys having success, though I don't know if either has ties to IU, or at least enough relationships to make good use of IU's huge recruiting advantages in the region. I also think Alford would be a safe choice because he does have the necessary relationships and he's a decent enough coach (though unspectacular) that he could win with enough talent.
The two young coaches I like a lot (both obviously w/ Big East ties) are Mick Cronin at Cincinnati or Brian Kelly from Ole Miss. In both cases they're first year guys having success, though I don't know if either has ties to IU, or at least enough relationships to make good use of IU's huge recruiting advantages in the region. I also think Alford would be a safe choice because he does have the necessary relationships and he's a decent enough coach (though unspectacular) that he could win with enough talent.
2023 GM Totals: 1780 W - 1460 L | 0.549 wpct | 89-73 (avg 162 G record)
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Dodgers
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I think Bobby Knight returning to Indiana would reek. Abandoning Texas Tech only to return to Indiana would be a slap in the face to the basketball players at Texas Tech. Plus the media would be all over him, they were already negative about him abandoning them for retirement, let alone another team. Is it even legal to coach 2 teams in the same year?
Ditching the team in the middle of the season, not long after he got himself another Big Number for career wins was a pretty big slap in the face as it is. But hey, Knight knows all about slapping his players around.Dodgers wrote:I think Bobby Knight returning to Indiana would reek. Abandoning Texas Tech only to return to Indiana would be a slap in the face to the basketball players at Texas Tech. Plus the media would be all over him, they were already negative about him abandoning them for retirement, let alone another team. Is it even legal to coach 2 teams in the same year?
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Yankees
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Well that's just moderately to totally ridiculous. Knight left long before the Indiana crap came up, and did it to ensure that his son would become the head coach. This was a decision made by Knight, Pat Knight, and the AD together.
If someone wants to speak to Knight about Indiana he has every right to listen.
If someone wants to speak to Knight about Indiana he has every right to listen.
Bren that is absurd. If you listened to anything they said you would know what Z just said is what happened. He wanted to ensure that his son was the head coach of the team. He said that if he let him take over at the end of the season there was too long of a waiting period and that there was always the chance they would hire someone else. Theres also nobody who doubts that he wont be coaching again at some point.
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I'm calling bullshit on Z and Jake.
http://media.www.dailytoreador.com/medi ... 1585.shtml
2005 article.
http://media.www.dailytoreador.com/medi ... 1585.shtml
2005 article.
