OAN’s James Meyers
8:32 AM – Thursday, November 2, 2023
Bob Knight, considered one of the greatest college basketball coaches ever, has died at the age of 83.
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The hall of fame coach died at his home in Bloomington, Indiana, “surrounded by family and friends,” his family said in a statement Wednesday evening on his foundation’s website.
“We will continue to celebrate his life and remember him, today and forever as a beloved Husband, Father, Coach, and Friend,” his family wrote.
The cause of death of Knight has not been revealed and the coach was hospitalized earlier this year, according to CBS Sports.
Knight was known for his tenure with Indiana Hoosier basketball for three decades, winning three national titles, appearing in five Final Fours and winning 11 conference championships.
The hall of fame coach was known for his fiery behavior, he coached Indiana from 1971 until he was forced out at Indiana in 2000 for violating a “zero tolerance” behavior policy when he grabbed the arm of a freshman student whom he said greeted him by his last name.
Additionally, Knight had a list of incidents during his tenure, which included throwing a chair across the court during a game and was accused numerous times of physical confrontations. The most eye popping was when he allegedly choked a player during practice in 1997.
After leaving Indiana, Knight became the head basketball coach at Texas Tech, spending seven seasons there, eventually resigning after the 2007-08 season.
Knight was able to earn 902 wins during his coaching career, the sixth most in NCAA men’s basketball history.
The legendary coach was born in 1940, in Orrville, Ohio, he played college basketball at Ohio State before making the switch to coaching and was named the head coach at Army at the young age of 24. He coached there for six seasons before joining Indiana for 29 seasons.
After being let go by Indiana Knight did not return back to the school for almost 20 years.
“On my dying day, I will think about how great the fans at Indiana were,” Knight told the Dan Patrick Show in 2017. “And as far as the hierarchy at Indiana University at the time, I have absolutely no respect whatsoever for those people. And that in mind, I have no interest in ever going back to that university.”
However, in 2020 Knight did return to Indiana where he was given a standing ovation during a halftime ceremony against Purdue.
As we collectively mourn the passing of Coach Knight, we also celebrate a man who will always be an integral part of Indiana University’s rich and vibrant story,” current Indiana University President Pamela Whitten said in a statement Wednesday. “With unmatched accomplishment, Coach Knight’s brilliance ensures he will forever rest among the giants of college basketball.”
After his time as a coach was over, Knight spent multiple years working as a studio analyst and color commentator for ESPN.
Knight is survived by his wife Karen Vieth Edgar and his sons, Tim and Pat, from his first marriage.
The legendary coach promised he would leave this world with no regrets.
“When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed,” he once said. “I want them to bury me upside down, and my critics can kiss my ass.”
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