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I was hoping this moment wouldn’t happen so soon, but it has. Coach Bob Knight has resigned as the men’s basketball coach of Texas Tech. He hands the reins over to his son Pat who joined him as an associate head coach in 2005. Knight told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal that health did not play a factor in his decision.
Coach Knight is the all time winningest coach in NCAA Men’s Basketball having notched his 902nd victory this past Saturday and led the 1984 Olympic basketball team to a gold medal. After graduating from Ohio State in 1962, Knight got his start as an assistant coach at Army in 1963. Two years later he was named the head coach and led the Black Knights to a 102-50 record in six seasons.
After the 1971 season he accepted the job at Indiana University where he solidified his legend. He went 661-240 in his 29 seasons with the Hoosiers winning three national championships and an undefeated 1975-1976 season. He was fired in September 2000 by then president Myles Brand (currently the czar of the NCAA) who had no tolerance for Knight’s behavior.
In 2001 he took the job with Texas Tech and promptly got the team into the NCAA Tournament after a six year absence.
Say what you will about Coach, but he’s damned good. Despite the tantrums, kicks, stranglings, abuse, I would want him to coach my kids if heaven forbid I ever choose to have any.
So to properly give Coach his just due, here are some clips after the jump of Coach Knight at his very best.
AP Photo by Chris Graythan
