Legendary basketball coach Bob Knight, one of the winningest coaches in NCAA Division I history, died on Wednesday, according to his family. He was 83 years old.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share that Coach Bob Knight passed away at his home in Bloomington surrounded by his family,” the Knight Family said in a statement. “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. We will continue to celebrate his life and remember him, today and forever as a beloved Husband, Father, Coach, and Friend.”
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Knight is best known for the 29 years that he spent as the head coach of the Indiana University’s men’s basketball team where he won 661 games and played in the NCAA tournament 24 times, according to ESPN. He coached the 1984 U.S. Olympic team to a gold medal in Los Angeles. His career record was 902-371.
“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,” said Pamela Whitten, Indiana University President. “With unmatched accomplishment, Coach Knight’s brilliance ensures he will forever rest among the giants of college basketball.”
Knight, who had a history of intense moments on the court, was forced out at Indiana in 2000 after he grabbed the arm of a student who he said greeted him using his surname. He also once threw a chair across the basketball court during a game and allegedly choked one of his own players at practice.
Regardless of the less flattering moments that led to his ouster, Knight was beloved by many in the sports world and, after spending several seasons coaching at Texas Tech, he retired from coaching and became a college basketball analyst for ESPN.
One of the most successful & influential figures in the history of college basketball. pic.twitter.com/6XMvJvcuaB
— Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) November 1, 2023