Editing Bob Knight (section)

==Coaching career==

===Army===

While in the army, he accepted an assistant coaching position with the [[Army Black Knights men's basketball|Army Black Knights]] in 1963, where, two years later, he was named head coach at the relatively young age of 24.<ref>{{cite news|title=Good Knight! He'll coach Army|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal/122961676/|newspaper=[[The Akron Beacon Journal]]|date=May 18, 1965|page=57|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=April 16, 2023|archive-date=April 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416144223/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal/122961676/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}}</ref> In six seasons as a head coach at West Point, Knight won 102 games, with his first coming against [[Worcester Polytechnic Institute]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Norlander |first=Matt |date=December 9, 2015 |title=LOOK: Army coach honors 50th anniversary of Bob Knight's first win |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/look-army-coach-honors-50th-anniversary-of-bob-knights-first-win/ |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=CBS Sports |language=en |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102004711/https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/look-army-coach-honors-50th-anniversary-of-bob-knights-first-win/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He led Army to four [[National Invitation Tournament|NITs]], advancing to the semifinals three times.<ref name=davis_11012023/> One of his players was [[Mike Krzyzewski]], who later served as his assistant before becoming a Hall of Fame head coach at [[Duke Blue Devils men's basketball|Duke]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Lyons |first=Dan |date=February 15, 2022 |title=The Incident That Reportedly Led to Coach K to Being 'Done With' Bobby Knight |url=https://www.si.com/college/2022/02/16/coach-k-bob-knight-relationship-ended-2015-incident-ian-oconnor-mike-krzyzewski-book |access-date=November 2, 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102004701/https://www.si.com/college/2022/02/16/coach-k-bob-knight-relationship-ended-2015-incident-ian-oconnor-mike-krzyzewski-book |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Mike Silliman]] was another of Knight's players at Army, and Knight was quoted as saying that Silliman was the best player that he had coached.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McMillan |first=Ken |date=January 27, 2015 |title=Army great Silliman to be honored |url=https://www.recordonline.com/story/sports/college/basketball/2015/01/27/army-great-silliman-to-be/35428880007/ |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=Times Herald-Record |language=en-US |archive-date=December 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220130535/https://www.recordonline.com/story/sports/college/basketball/2015/01/27/army-great-silliman-to-be/35428880007/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Coach-k-knight.jpg|thumb|[[Mike Krzyzewski]] and Knight during his tenure at Army]]

During his tenure at Army, Knight gained a reputation for having an explosive temper.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Corley |first1=Cheryl |last2=Beane |first2=Patrick |date=November 1, 2023 |title=Hall of Fame basketball coach Bobby Knight has died at 83 |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/11/01/1184960767/bobby-knight-indiana-basketball-coach-hoosiers-dies |access-date=November 1, 2023 |publisher=NPR |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102000705/https://www.npr.org/2023/11/01/1184960767/bobby-knight-indiana-basketball-coach-hoosiers-dies |url-status=live }}</ref> After Army's 66–60 loss to [[BYU]] and Hall of Fame coach [[Stan Watts]] in the semifinals of the [[1966 National Invitation Tournament|1966 NIT]], Knight completely lost control, kicking lockers and verbally blasting the officials.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Call |first=Jeff |date=March 25, 2016 |title=Nemelka recalls BYU's NIT championship 50 years ago in New York City |url=https://www.deseret.com/2016/3/25/20585423/nemelka-recalls-byu-s-nit-championship-50-years-ago-in-new-york-city |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=Deseret News |language=en |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102003047/https://www.deseret.com/2016/3/25/20585423/nemelka-recalls-byu-s-nit-championship-50-years-ago-in-new-york-city |url-status=live }}</ref> Embarrassed, he later went to Watts' hotel room and apologized. Watts forgave him, and is quoted as saying, "I want you to know that you're going to be one of the bright young coaches in the country, and it's just a matter of time before you win a national championship."<ref>Rock, Brad, and Lee Warnick. Greatest Moments in BYU Sports. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1984. Print.</ref>

Knight was one of seven candidates vying to fill the [[Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball|Wisconsin men's basketball]] head coaching vacancy after [[John E. Erickson (Wisconsin politician)|John Erickson]] resigned to become the [[Milwaukee Bucks]]' first-ever general manager on April 3, 1968.<ref name="Krause-2023">{{Cite web |last=Krause |first=Dennis |date=November 1, 2023 |title=Dennis Krause Blog: Bobby Knight almost coached at Wisconsin |url=https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwaukee/news/2023/11/02/basketball-coach-bob-knight-dies-indiana-wisconsin- |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=Spectrum News |language=en |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102004642/https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwaukee/news/2023/11/02/basketball-coach-bob-knight-dies-indiana-wisconsin- |url-status=live }}</ref> Knight was offered the position but requested more time to think it over. By the time he had returned to West Point, news that he was to become the Badgers' new coach was prematurely leaked to the local media.<ref name="Krause-2023" /> After consulting with [[Bo Schembechler]], who had also had a negative experience as a [[Wisconsin Badgers football|Wisconsin football]] coaching candidate the previous year, Knight withdrew his candidacy and continued to coach at Army for three more seasons. Erickson's assistant coach [[John Powless]] was promoted instead.<ref>[https://journaltimes.com/good-knight-badgers-finally-over-bobby-s-rejection/article_766498a9-8bc9-55b2-9c9b-9a0ceae317e8.html Temkin, Barry. "Good Knight: Badgers finally over Bobby's rejection," ''Chicago Tribune'', Thursday, March 23, 2000.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326103121/https://journaltimes.com/good-knight-badgers-finally-over-bobby-s-rejection/article_766498a9-8bc9-55b2-9c9b-9a0ceae317e8.html |date=March 26, 2020 }} Retrieved March 26, 2020</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-09-27|title=Excerpt: How Bo Schembechler and Bob Knight could've been Badgers|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/136952/excerpt-how-bo-schembechler-and-bob-knight-couldve-been-badgers|access-date=2024-01-04|publisher=ESPN|language=en}}</ref>

===Indiana===
In 1971, [[Indiana University Bloomington]] hired Knight as head coach.<ref name="Press-2023">{{Cite web |last1=Press |first1=Matt |last2=Foley |first2=Will |date=November 1, 2023 |title=Bob Knight, Indiana basketball coaching legend and controversial figure, dies at 83 |url=https://www.idsnews.com/article/2023/11/bob-knight-indiana-university-basketball-coach-dead-bloomington-iu |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=Indiana Daily Student |language=en-US |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102224422/https://www.idsnews.com/article/2023/11/bob-knight-indiana-university-basketball-coach-dead-bloomington-iu |url-status=live }}</ref> During his 29 years at the school, the [[Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball|Hoosiers]] won 662 games, including 22 seasons of 20 or more wins, while losing 239, a .735 winning percentage.<ref name="Texas Tech">{{cite web|title=Bob Knight|url=http://www.texastech.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/knight_bob00.html|publisher=Texas Tech Athletics|access-date=April 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915162633/http://texastech.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/knight_bob00.html|archive-date=September 15, 2008|year=2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 24 NCAA tournament appearances at Indiana, Hoosier teams under Knight won 42 of 63 games (.667), winning titles in [[1975–76 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|1976]], [[1980–81 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|1981]], and [[1986–87 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|1987]], while losing in the semifinals in 1973 and 1992.<ref name="IU bio">{{cite web|title=Bob Knight|url=http://www.indiana.edu/~athlweb/graphic/sports/m-bkball/mbkcbio.html|publisher=Indiana University Bloomington Athletics|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000611213328/http://www.indiana.edu/~athlweb/graphic/sports/m-bkball/mbkcbio.html |archive-date=June 11, 2000}}</ref>

====1970s====
[[File:President Gerald Ford Meets with 1976 NCAA Champion Indiana University Basketball Team.jpg|thumb|left|Knight ''(leftmost)'' and the 1976 national champion Hoosiers with President [[Gerald Ford]] at the White House]] 
In [[1972–73 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|1972–73]], Knight's second year as coach, Indiana won the Big Ten championship and reached the Final Four, losing to [[1972–73 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team|UCLA]], which was on its way to its seventh consecutive national title.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Brew |first=Tom |date=March 24, 2020 |title=ON THIS DAY: In 1973, a Very Young Bob Knight Almost Took Down the UCLA Dynasty |url=https://www.si.com/college/indiana/basketball/on-this-day-indiana-ucla-1973 |access-date=November 2, 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en |archive-date=March 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328035251/https://www.si.com/college/indiana/basketball/on-this-day-indiana-ucla-1973 |url-status=live }}</ref> The following season, in [[1973–74 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|1973–74]], Indiana once again captured a Big Ten title.<ref name="Glenesk-2023">{{Cite web |last1=Glenesk |first1=Matthew |last2=Osterman |first2=Zach |date=November 1, 2023 |title=Ranking Bob Knight's top 5 IU basketball teams: Undefeated champs to what-could-have-been |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2023/11/01/ranking-bobby-knight-best-indiana-hoosiers-basketball-teams-iu-1976-1975-1981-1993-1987/70367290007/ |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=The Indianapolis Star |language=en-US |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102011218/https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2023/11/01/ranking-bobby-knight-best-indiana-hoosiers-basketball-teams-iu-1976-1975-1981-1993-1987/70367290007/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the two following seasons, [[1974–75 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|1974–75]] and [[1975–76 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|1975–76]], the Hoosiers were undefeated in the regular season and won 37 consecutive Big Ten games, including two more Big Ten championships.<ref name="Smith-2012">{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Eric |date=October 29, 2012 |title=Indiana Basketball: Top 5 Teams in Hoosiers History |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1386377-indiana-basketball-top-5-teams-in-hoosiers-history |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102011214/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1386377-indiana-basketball-top-5-teams-in-hoosiers-history |url-status=live }}</ref> In [[1974–75 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|1974–75]], the Hoosiers swept the entire Big Ten by an average of 22.8 points per game. However, in an 83–82 win against [[Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball|Purdue]] they lost consensus [[All-American]] forward [[Scott May]] to a broken left arm.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sports |first=IndyStar |date=July 18, 2013 |title=Indiana Basketball: And the No. 1 player all-time in Indiana University basketball history is ... |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/hoosier-insider/1/01/01/indiana-basketball-and-the-no-1-player-all-time-in-indiana-university-basketball-history-is/2557209/ |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=The Indianapolis Star |language=en-US |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102023549/https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/hoosier-insider/1/01/01/indiana-basketball-and-the-no-1-player-all-time-in-indiana-university-basketball-history-is/2557209/ |url-status=live }}</ref> With May's injury limiting him to seven minutes of play, the No. 1 Hoosiers lost to [[1974–75 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]] 92–90 in the [[1975 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|Mideast Regional]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Brew |first=Tom |date=March 23, 2020 |title=ON THIS DAY: In 1975, Kentucky Steals Indiana's Shot at History |url=https://www.si.com/college/indiana/basketball/on-this-day-indiana-loses-kentucky-1975 |access-date=November 2, 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102023548/https://www.si.com/college/indiana/basketball/on-this-day-indiana-loses-kentucky-1975 |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite the loss, the Hoosiers were so dominant that four starters—[[Scott May]], [[Steve Green (basketball)|Steve Green]], [[Kent Benson]], and [[Quinn Buckner]]—would make the five-man All-Big Ten team.<ref name="Smith-2012" />

The following season, in [[1975–76 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|1975–76]], the Hoosiers went the entire season and [[1976 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1976 NCAA tournament]] without a single loss, defeating [[1975–76 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan]] 86–68 in the title game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Osterman |first=Zach |date=January 2, 2016 |title=1976 Indiana Hoosiers' undefeated season: An oral history |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2016/01/02/1976-indiana-hoosiers-undefeated-season-oral-history/78181576/ |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=The Indianapolis Star |language=en-US |archive-date=November 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101224427/https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2016/01/02/1976-indiana-hoosiers-undefeated-season-oral-history/78181576/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Immediately after the game, Knight lamented that "it should have been two." The 1976 Hoosiers remain the last undefeated NCAA Division I men's basketball team.<ref>{{cite news|first=Dave |last=Dorr |url=http://www.sportingnews.com/archives/sports2000/trends/150673.html |title=A perfect season |work=Sporting News |date=April 10, 1976 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000229072546/http://www.sportingnews.com/archives/sports2000/trends/150673.html |archive-date=February 29, 2000|access-date=March 28, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/sports/hh/1976/ |title=Hoosier Historia |publisher=heraldtimesonline.com |access-date=March 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070606115814/http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/sports/hh/1976/ |archive-date=June 6, 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> Through these two seasons, Knight's teams were undefeated in the regular season, including a perfect 37–0 record in Big Ten games on their way to their third and fourth conference titles in a row.<ref name="Smith-2012" /> Behind the play of [[Mike Woodson]], Indiana won the [[1979 National Invitation Tournament|1979 NIT]] championship.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dopirak |first=Dustin |date=January 19, 2022 |title=Mike Woodson on IU-Purdue rivalry: 'It's just always been a battle over the years.' |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2022/01/19/mike-woodson-rejoins-iu-purdue-basketball-rivalry-sideline-indiana/6578214001/ |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=The Indianapolis Star |language=en-US |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102021903/https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2022/01/19/mike-woodson-rejoins-iu-purdue-basketball-rivalry-sideline-indiana/6578214001/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Throughout the 1970s, however, Knight was beginning to be involved in several controversies.<ref name="The Columbus Dispatch-2008">{{Cite web |date=February 4, 2008 |title=The Knightmare is Over |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2008/02/05/the-knightmare-is-over/23628132007/ |access-date=November 4, 2023 |website=The Columbus Dispatch |language=en-US}}</ref> 1960 Olympic gold medalist [[Douglas Blubaugh]] was head wrestling coach at IU from 1973 to 1984. Early in his tenure while he jogged in the practice facility during basketball practice, Knight yelled at him to leave, using more than one expletive. Blubaugh pinned Knight to a wall, and told him never to repeat the performance, and Knight never did.<ref>{{Cite web |title="Doug Blubaugh was tougher than he was good," NewsOK, Barry Tramel, 10 August 2017 |url=http://newsok.com/article/5559704 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120071923/http://newsok.com/article/5559704 |archive-date=November 20, 2017 |access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref>

On December 7, 1974, Indiana defeated Kentucky 98–74. Near the end of the game, Knight went to the Kentucky bench where the official was standing to complain about a call. Before he left, Knight hit Kentucky coach [[Joe B. Hall]] in the back of the head.<ref>{{cite web |title=Recapping the rivalry |url=https://247sports.com/college/kentucky/article/recapping-the-top-5-games-in-the-kentucky-indiana-hoops-rivalry-52292/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110101123/http://kentucky.247sports.com/Article/Recapping-the-top-5-games-in-the-Kentucky-Indiana-hoops-rivalry-52292 |archive-date=January 10, 2012 |access-date=March 22, 2012}}</ref> Kentucky assistant coach Lynn Nance, a former [[FBI agent]], had to be restrained by Hall from hitting Knight. Hall later said, "It publicly humiliated me."<ref>''Atlanta Constitution Journal'', February 28, 1982.{{verify source|date=April 2017}}</ref> Knight blamed the furor on Hall, stating, "If it was meant to be malicious, I'd have blasted the fucker into the seats."<ref>{{cite book |last=Delsohn |first=Steve |url=https://archive.org/details/bobknightunautho00dels |title=Bob Knight: The Unauthorized Biography |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2006 |isbn=9780743243483 |page=[https://archive.org/details/bobknightunautho00dels/page/96 96] |url-access=registration}}</ref>

Years after the incident, it was reported that Knight choked and punched Indiana University's longtime sports information director, Kit Klingelhoffer, over a news release that upset the coach.<ref name="The Columbus Dispatch-2008" /> In 1976, Knight grabbed IU basketball player Jim Wisman and jerked him into his seat.<ref name="The Columbus Dispatch-2008" />

====1980s====
[[File:Isiah Thomas and Bobby Knight, The Cincinnati Enquirer 1981-03-15 page C-4.jpg|thumb|Knight with [[Isiah Thomas]] in 1981]]
The [[1979–80 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|1979–80 Hoosiers]], led by [[Mike Woodson]] and [[Isiah Thomas]], won the Big Ten championship and advanced to the [[1980 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1980 Sweet Sixteen]].<ref name="Jordan-2022">{{Cite magazine |last=Jordan |first=Haley |date=July 29, 2022 |title=Hoosier Favorite No. 30? Picking Favorite Indiana Basketball Players, One Number At a Time |url=https://www.si.com/college/indiana/basketball/indiana-basketball-hoosiers-by-the-numbers-favorite-player-to-wear-number-30 |access-date=November 2, 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102132149/https://www.si.com/college/indiana/basketball/indiana-basketball-hoosiers-by-the-numbers-favorite-player-to-wear-number-30 |url-status=live }}</ref> The following season, in [[1980–81 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|1980–81]], Thomas and the Hoosiers once again won a conference title and won the [[1981 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1981 NCAA tournament]], Knight's second national title.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Jordan |first=Haley |date=March 30, 2023 |title=This Day in History: Isiah Thomas Leads Indiana Basketball to 1981 NCAA Title |url=https://www.si.com/college/indiana/basketball/this-day-in-history-bobby-knight-leads-indiana-basketball-1981-ncaa-title |access-date=November 2, 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en |archive-date=April 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406152634/https://www.si.com/college/indiana/basketball/this-day-in-history-bobby-knight-leads-indiana-basketball-1981-ncaa-title |url-status=live }}</ref>

In [[1982–83 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|1982–83]], with the strong play of [[Uwe Blab]] and All-Americans [[Ted Kitchel]] and [[Randy Wittman]], the No. 1 ranked Hoosiers were favorites to win another national championship.<ref name="IndianaHQ" /> However, with an injury to Kitchel mid-season,<ref name="Jordan-2022" /> the Hoosiers lost to Kentucky in the [[1983 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1983 Sweet Sixteen]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Jared |date=June 17, 2020 |title=Top 10 most disappointing losses in IU basketball history |url=https://247sports.com/college/indiana/contentgallery/indiana-hoosiers-college-basketball-iu-history-disappointing-memorable-losses-top-10-148248312/ |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=247Sports |language=en |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102173640/https://247sports.com/college/indiana/contentgallery/indiana-hoosiers-college-basketball-iu-history-disappointing-memorable-losses-top-10-148248312/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the [[1985–86 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|1985–86]] season, the Hoosiers were profiled in a bestselling book ''[[A Season on the Brink]]''.<ref name="Publishers Weekly" /> To write it, Knight granted author [[John Feinstein]] almost unprecedented access to the Indiana basketball program, as well as insights into Knight's private life.<ref name="CSPAN">{{cite web |title=Q&A with John Feinstein |url=http://www.c-span.org/video/?302898-1/qa-john-feinstein |access-date=December 1, 2014 |publisher=C-SPAN Q&A |archive-date=November 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110053340/http://www.c-span.org/video/?302898-1/qa-john-feinstein |url-status=live }}</ref> The following season, in [[1986–87 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|1986–87]], the Hoosiers were led by All-American [[Steve Alford]] and captured a share of the Big Ten title.<ref name="Mitchell-2023" /> The team won Knight's third national championship (the school's fifth) against [[Syracuse Orange men's basketball|Syracuse]] in the [[1987 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1987 NCAA tournament]] with a game-winning jump shot by [[Keith Smart]] with five seconds remaining in the championship game.<ref>{{cite news|first=Rick |last=Weinberg |title=60: Smart's jumper wins NCAA title for Indiana |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/espn25/story?page=moments/60 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=March 30, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050516141441/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/espn25/story?page=moments%2F60 |archive-date=May 16, 2005 }}</ref>

In the [[1988–89 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|1988–89 season]], the Hoosiers were led by All-American [[Jay Edwards (basketball)|Jay Edwards]] and won a Big Ten championship.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pegram |first=Mike |date=May 14, 2020 |title=Thursday Throwback: Edwards shoots down the Boilers |url=https://247sports.com/college/indiana/Article/Indiana-Hoosiers-Basketball-Purdue-Thursday-Throwback-Edwards-shoots-down-the-Boilers-147143883/ |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=247Sports |language=en |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102173646/https://247sports.com/college/indiana/Article/Indiana-Hoosiers-Basketball-Purdue-Thursday-Throwback-Edwards-shoots-down-the-Boilers-147143883/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Knight was involved in several controversies in the 1980s as well. In a game between Indiana and Purdue in Bloomington on January 31, 1981, Isiah Thomas allegedly hit Purdue guard [[Roosevelt Barnes (American football)|Roosevelt Barnes]] in what some critics described as a "sucker punch".<ref>{{cite book |last=Challen |first=Paul |title=The Isiah Thomas Story |publisher=ECW Press |year=2004 |isbn=1-55022-662-2 |location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada}}</ref> Video replay later shown by Knight showed Barnes had thrown the first punch, and that Thomas was merely reacting to this.

When the two schools played their second game of the season at Purdue on February 7, 1981, Knight claimed a number of derisive chants were directed at him, his wife, and Indiana University. In response, Knight invited Purdue athletic director George King on his weekly television show to discuss the matter, but King declined. Therefore, in place of King, Knight brought onto the show a "jackass" (male donkey) wearing a Purdue hat as a representative of Purdue.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=John |date=March 26, 1981 |title=Knight Infamous Prankster |newspaper=The Victoria Advocate}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bob Knight & the Purdue Mascot | date=December 9, 2006 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdm4Oi1YRZY |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113234109/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdm4Oi1YRZY |archive-date=November 13, 2011 |access-date=May 6, 2012 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

On February 23, 1985, during a Purdue–Indiana game in Bloomington, five minutes into the game a scramble for a loose ball resulted in a foul call on Indiana's Marty Simmons. Immediately after the resumption of play, a foul was called on Indiana's Daryl Thomas. Knight, irate, insisted the first of the two calls should have been for a [[jump ball]] and ultimately received a [[technical foul]]. Purdue's Steve Reid stepped to the [[free throw line]] to shoot the resulting free throws, but before he could, Knight grabbed a red plastic chair from Indiana's bench and threw it across the floor toward the basket in front of Reid. Knight was charged with a second and third technical foul and was ejected from the game.

He apologized for his actions the next day and was given a one-game suspension and two years' probation from the [[Big Ten Conference|Big Ten]]. In later years, Knight would occasionally joke about the chair-throwing incident by saying that he saw an old lady standing on the opposite sideline and threw her the chair so she could sit down.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 21, 2005 |title=Knight chair toss resonates 20 years later |newspaper=NBC Sports |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/7008442/ |url-status=dead |access-date=May 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023052612/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/7008442/ |archive-date=October 23, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bobby Knight Throws a Chair | date=April 9, 2006 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvRO2GE4x4M |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105013847/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvRO2GE4x4M |archive-date=January 5, 2012 |access-date=May 6, 2012 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

Former Indiana basketball player [[Todd Jadlow]] has written a book alleging that from 1985 to 1989, Knight punched him in the face, broke a clipboard over the top of his head, and squeezed his testicles and the testicles of other Hoosiers, among other abuses.<ref>Corcoran, Tully, [https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaabk/book-bob-knight-used-to-squeeze-players’-testicles-punch-players-in-the-head-etc/ar-AAjoMbM?O "Book: Bob Knight used to squeeze players' testicles, punch players in the head, Etc."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327080216/http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaabk/book-bob-knight-used-to-squeeze-players%E2%80%99-testicles-punch-players-in-the-head-etc/ar-AAjoMbM?OCID=ansmsnnews11|date=March 27, 2017}}, MSN, October 16, 2016.</ref>

In an April 1988 interview with [[Connie Chung]], when discussing an Indiana basketball game in which he felt the referees were making poor calls against the Hoosiers, Knight said, "I think that if rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it." In response, women's groups nationwide were outraged by Knight's comments.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 14, 2006 |title=Bob Knight's outburst timeline |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/big12/2006-11-14-knight-timeline_x.htm |url-status=live |access-date=April 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925030044/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/big12/2006-11-14-knight-timeline_x.htm |archive-date=September 25, 2009}}</ref>

==== 1990–2000 ====
From [[1990–91 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|1990–91]] through [[1992–93 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|1992–93]], the Hoosiers posted 87 victories, the most by any Big Ten team in a three-year span, breaking the mark of 86 set by Knight's Indiana teams of 1974–76.<ref name="IndianaHQ" /> They captured two Big Ten crowns in 1990–91 and 1992–93, and during the [[1991–92 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|1991–92]] season reached the [[1992 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|Final Four]].<ref name="Bailey-2017">{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Teddy |date=December 4, 2017 |title=IU's 1992 Final Four team had incredible depth |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2017/12/04/ius-1992-final-four-team-had-incredible-depth/921910001/ |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=The Indianapolis Star |language=en-US |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629234420/https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2017/12/04/ius-1992-final-four-team-had-incredible-depth/921910001/ |url-status=live }}</ref> During the 1992–93 season, the 31–4 Hoosiers finished the season at the top of the [[AP Poll]], but were defeated by [[Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball|Kansas]] in the [[1993 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|Elite Eight]].<ref name="Glenesk-2023" /> Players from the team in this era included [[Greg Graham]], [[Pat Knight]], All-Americans [[Damon Bailey]] and [[Alan Henderson]], Brian Evans, and National Player of the Year [[Calbert Cheaney]].<ref name="Bailey-2017" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Brew |first=Tom |date=March 27, 2020 |title=ON THIS DAY, In 1993, A Wounded Knee, and One Last Missed Opportunity For Great Group |url=https://www.si.com/college/indiana/basketball/on-this-day-indiana-falls-kansas-1993 |access-date=November 2, 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en |archive-date=March 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328195531/https://www.si.com/college/indiana/basketball/on-this-day-indiana-falls-kansas-1993 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Throughout the mid and late 1990s Knight continued to experience success with continual NCAA tournament appearances and a minimum of 19 wins each season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bob Knight Coaching Record |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/coaches/bob-knight-1.html |access-date=November 3, 2023 |website=[[Sports-Reference.com]] |language=en}}</ref> However, 1993 would be Knight's last conference championship and 1994 would be his last trip to the Sweet Sixteen.<ref name="IndianaHQ">{{Cite web |title=Bob Knight – Indiana University IU Hoosiers Basketball History |url=https://indianahq.com/bob-knight/ |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=IndianaHQ |language=en-US |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102022111/https://indianahq.com/bob-knight/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 1, 2023 |title=Bob Knight's coaching tree spread far and wide |url=https://apnews.com/article/bob-knight-coaching-tree-ae4459e7a98899d2d8560cf06ed71b26 |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=AP News |language=en |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102021903/https://apnews.com/article/bob-knight-coaching-tree-ae4459e7a98899d2d8560cf06ed71b26 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Throughout the 1990s Knight was yet again involved in several controversies:
* At a practice leading up to an Indiana–Purdue game in West Lafayette in 1991, Knight yelled expletives and threats that were designed to motivate his Indiana team. In one portion he exclaimed he was "fucking tired of losing to Purdue." The speech was secretly taped and has since gone viral, receiving over 1.84 million views on YouTube alone.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bobby Knight – angry motivational speech |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw7KijRfU-c |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724041318/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw7KijRfU-c |archive-date=July 24, 2016 |access-date=November 27, 2016 |via=YouTube}}</ref> Although it is still not known who taped the speech, many former players suspect it was team manager [[Lawrence Frank]]. Players who were present were unable to remember the specific speech because such expletive-filled outbursts by Knight were so frequent.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Tom |date=February 18, 2008 |title=Did Lawrence Frank Tape Classic Knight Tirade? |newspaper=Indy Cornrows |url=http://www.indycornrows.com/2008/2/18/14524/2873 |url-status=dead |access-date=May 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413105413/https://www.indycornrows.com/2008/2/18/14524/2873 |archive-date=April 13, 2019}}</ref>
* In March 1992 prior to the NCAA regional finals, controversy erupted after Knight playfully mock whipped Indiana players [[Calbert Cheaney]] and Pat Graham during practice. The bullwhip had been given to Knight as a gift from his team. Several black leaders complained at the racial connotations of the act, given that Cheaney was a black student.<ref>(''Knight: My Story'', pg. 297.)</ref>
* In January 1993, Knight mentioned the recruiting of Ivan Renko, a fictitious [[Yugoslavs|Yugoslavian]] player he had created. Knight created Renko in an attempt to expose disreputable basketball [[Recruiting (college athletics)|recruiting]] experts.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hansen |first1=Jeff |title=Ivan Renko was a big time Indiana hoops recruit for Bobby Knight and he taught us a lot about the information era of sports journalism |url=https://giveemhellbrigham.com/ivan-renko-was-a-big-time-indiana-hoops-recruit-for-bobby-knight-and-he-taught-us-a-lot-about-the-information-era-of-sports-journalism/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325130849/https://giveemhellbrigham.com/ivan-renko-was-a-big-time-indiana-hoops-recruit-for-bobby-knight-and-he-taught-us-a-lot-about-the-information-era-of-sports-journalism/ |archive-date=March 25, 2023 |access-date=October 10, 2023 |website=giveemhellbrigham.com|date=February 23, 2023 }}</ref> Even though Renko was completely fictitious, several recruiting services started listing him as a prospect with in-depth descriptions of his potential and game style. Some of the more reputable recruiting gurus claimed to have never heard of Renko, whereas some other "experts" even claimed to possess or to see film of him actually playing basketball.<ref name="mystoryivanrenko">{{cite book |author1=Bob Knight |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IvuEfNiw0yYC&q=ivan+renko&pg=PA335 |title=Knight: My Story |author2=Bob Hammel |publisher=Thomas Dunne Books |year=2002 |isbn=978-0312282578 |location=New York |pages=334–335 |access-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102224426/https://books.google.com/books?id=IvuEfNiw0yYC&q=ivan+renko&pg=PA335#v=snippet&q=ivan%20renko&f=false |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* Knight was recorded berating an NCAA volunteer at a March 1995 post-game press conference following a 65–60 loss to Missouri in the first round of the NCAA tournament held in Boise, Idaho. The volunteer informed the press that Knight would not be attending the press conference, when Knight was actually running a few minutes late and had planned on attending per NCAA rules.<ref>{{cite web |title=ESPN.com – Page2 – Outside the Lines – Bob Knight: The Final Crisis? |url=https://www.espn.com/page2/tvlistings/show3transcript.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603094409/http://sports.espn.go.com/page2/tvlistings/show3transcript.html |archive-date=June 3, 2011 |access-date=October 11, 2010 |publisher=ESPN}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=1995 – Bobby Knight Rants on NCAA Official | date=June 26, 2012 |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7rv9JUSkh6c |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150131032722/https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7rv9JUSkh6c |archive-date=January 31, 2015 |access-date=September 9, 2017 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
* [[Neil Reed]] and former Indiana player Richard Mandeville alleged in a CNN interview that Knight once showed players his own feces. According to Mandeville, Knight said, "This is how you guys are playing."<ref>{{cite web |date=March 15, 2000 |title=Former Players Break Silence About Bobby Knight; Indianians Rally Around Coach (rush transcript) |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0003/15/nsst.00.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815000238/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0003/15/nsst.00.html |archive-date=August 15, 2018 |access-date=August 30, 2018 |publisher=CNN}}</ref>
* On February 19, 2000, Clarence Doninger, Knight's boss, alleged that he had been physically threatened by Knight during a confrontation after a game.<ref name="www2.indystar.com" /> 
* An Indiana investigation inquired about an allegation in which Knight berated and physically intimidated a university secretary, once throwing a potted plant in anger, showering her with glass and debris. The university later asked Knight to issue an apology to the secretary.<ref name="www2.indystar.com" />
* It was alleged that Knight attacked assistant coach Ron Felling, throwing him out of a chair after overhearing him criticizing the basketball program in a phone conversation.<ref name="www2.indystar.com" />

====Dismissal from Indiana====
[[File:Knight with young fans.jpg|thumb|left|Knight with young fans at [[Frank Truitt]]'s house in [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]], summer of 1988]]

On March 14, 2000, (just before Indiana was to begin play in the NCAA tournament), the [[CNN Sports Illustrated]] network ran a piece on [[Robert Abbott (director)|Robert Abbott's]] investigation of Knight in which former player [[Neil Reed]] claimed he had been choked by Knight during a practice in 1997.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Knight Tape: Video captures encounter between IU coach, ex-player|publisher=[[CNN Sports Illustrated]]|date=September 9, 2000|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/thenetwork/news/2000/04/11/knight_cnnsi/|access-date=September 29, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206071248/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/thenetwork/news/2000/04/11/knight_cnnsi/|archive-date=February 6, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> Knight denied the claims in the story. However, less than a month later, the network aired a tape of an Indiana practice from 1997 that appeared to show Knight placing his hand on the neck of Reed.<ref name="Fired">[http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/09/11/knight.protest.02 CNN.com – Fired Bob Knight calms angry student demonstrators – September 11, 2000] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518025450/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/09/11/knight.protest.02 |date=May 18, 2008 }}</ref>

In response, Indiana University president [[Myles Brand]] announced that he had adopted a "zero tolerance" policy with regard to Knight's behavior.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.indystar.com/library/factfiles/people/k/knight_bob/knight.html |title=Bob Knight – Former Indiana University basketball coach |publisher=.indystar.com |access-date=October 11, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100419194719/http://www2.indystar.com/library/factfiles/people/k/knight_bob/knight.html |archive-date=April 19, 2010 }}</ref> Later in the year, in September 2000, Indiana freshman Kent Harvey (not a basketball player) reportedly said, "Hey, Knight, what's up?" to Knight. According to Harvey, Knight then grabbed him by the arm and lectured him for not showing him respect, insisting that Harvey address him as either "Mr. Knight" or "Coach Knight" instead of simply "Knight."<ref name="Fired" /> Brand stated that this incident was only one of numerous complaints that occurred after the zero-tolerance policy had been put into place. Brand asked Knight to resign on September 10, and when Knight refused, Brand [[Dismissal (employment)|relieved him]] of his coaching duties effective immediately. Knight's dismissal was met with outrage from students. That night, thousands of Indiana students marched from Indiana University's Assembly Hall to Brand's home, burning Brand in [[effigy]].<ref name="Fired" />

Harvey was supported by some and vilified by many who claim he had intentionally set up Knight. Kent Harvey's stepfather, Mark Shaw, was a former [[Bloomington, Indiana|Bloomington]]-area radio talk show host and Knight critic.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/threats-follow-knight-dismissal/ "Threats Follow Knight Dismissal"], 2000/09/11.</ref> On September 13, Knight said goodbye to a crowd of some 6,000 supporters in Dunn Meadow at Indiana University.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brennan |first=Eamonn |date=August 14, 2014 |title=What if Bob Knight hadn't been fired? |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/99949/what-if-bob-knight-hadnt-been-fired |access-date=November 3, 2023 |publisher=ESPN |language=en}}</ref> He asked that they not hold a grudge against Harvey and that they continue to support the basketball team.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/bobknight_farewell |title=Internet Archive: Details: Coach Bob Knight's Farewell Address to Indiana University |date=September 13, 2000 |access-date=October 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930012504/http://www.archive.org/details/bobknight_farewell |archive-date=September 30, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> Knight's firing made national headlines, including the cover of ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' and around-the-clock coverage on [[ESPN]], as well as mentions on [[CNN]] and [[CBS]].<ref name="Indiana University Honors & Awards">{{Cite web |title=Bobby Knight: University Honors and Awards: Indiana University |url=https://honorsandawards.iu.edu/awards/honoree/916.html |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=Indiana University Honors & Awards |language=en-US |archive-date=January 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127213221/https://honorsandawards.iu.edu/awards/honoree/916.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Two days after Knight was fired from Indiana University, [[Jeremy Schaap]] of ESPN interviewed him and discussed his time at Indiana. Towards the end of the interview, Knight talked about his son, Pat, who had also been dismissed by the university, wanting an opportunity to be a head coach. Schaap, thinking that Knight was finished, attempted to move on to another subject, but Knight insisted on continuing about his son. Schaap repeatedly tried to ask another question when Knight shifted the conversation to Schaap's style of interviewing, notably chastising him about interruptions. Knight then commented (referring to Schaap's father, [[Dick Schaap]]), "You've got a long way to go to be as good as your dad."<ref>{{cite web |title=Bob Knight interview |url=http://www2.indystar.com/library/factfiles/people/k/knight_bob/interview.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081105045952/http://www2.indystar.com/library/factfiles/people/k/knight_bob/interview.html |archive-date=November 5, 2008 |work=[[The Indianapolis Star]]}}</ref>

In a March 2017 interview on ''[[The Dan Patrick Show]]'', Knight stated that he had no interest in ever returning to Indiana.<ref name="Press-2023" /> When host [[Dan Patrick (sportscaster)|Dan Patrick]] commented that most of the administration that had fired Knight seventeen years earlier were no longer there, Knight said, "I hope they're all dead."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-03-10|title=Bob Knight on old Indiana administration that fired him: 'I hope they're all dead'|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/bob-knight-on-old-indiana-administration-that-fired-him-i-hope-theyre-all-dead/|access-date=2024-01-04|website=CBSSports.com|language=en}}</ref>

Knight ultimately returned to Assembly Hall at halftime of Indiana's game against [[Purdue]] on February 8, 2020, and received a rousing standing ovation.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=West |first=Jenna |date=February 8, 2020 |title=Bob Knight Returns to Assembly Hall |url=https://www.si.com/college/2020/02/08/bob-knight-return-assembly-hall-indiana-purdue-video |access-date=November 2, 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us |archive-date=April 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403083050/https://www.si.com/college/2020/02/08/bob-knight-return-assembly-hall-indiana-purdue-video |url-status=live }}</ref> It was the first Indiana game attended by Knight since his dismissal by the school 20 years prior.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/28660306/emotional-bob-knight-ends-20-year-split-indiana |title=Emotional Knight ends 20-year split with Indiana |date=February 8, 2020 |access-date=February 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200209141217/https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/28660306/emotional-bob-knight-ends-20-year-split-indiana |archive-date=February 9, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Texas Tech===
[[File:TTU Bob Knight.jpg|thumb|Knight in 2008]]

Following his dismissal from Indiana, Knight took a season off while on the lookout for coaching vacancies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Osterman |first=Zach |date=September 9, 2020 |title=20 years later: The story of Bob Knight's firing from IU basketball |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2020/09/09/20-years-later-story-bob-knights-firing-iu-basketball-20-years-later-story-bob-knights-firing-iu-bas/5750680002/ |access-date=November 3, 2023 |website=The Indianapolis Star |language=en-US}}</ref> He accepted the head coaching position at [[Texas Tech University]], although his hiring was opposed by a faculty group led by Walter Schaller, associate professor of philosophy.<ref name="The New York Times">{{cite news | url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C04E4D7163DF936A25750C0A9679C8B63 | work=The New York Times | title=COLLEGE BASKETBALL; At Texas Tech, Some Professors Balk at Knight | first=Liz | last=Robbins | date=March 15, 2001 | access-date=April 26, 2010 | archive-date=November 2, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102224422/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/15/sports/college-basketball-at-texas-tech-some-professors-balk-at-knight.html | url-status=live }}</ref> When he was introduced at the press conference, Knight quipped, "This is without question the most comfortable red sweater I've had on in six years."<ref>{{cite news |last=Drape |first=Joe |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C05E6D9123CF937A15750C0A9679C8B63&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss |title=COLLEGE BASKETBALL; Texas Tech Will Be Knight's New Home |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 24, 2001 |access-date=October 11, 2010 |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102224430/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/24/sports/college-basketball-texas-tech-will-be-knight-s-new-home.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss |url-status=live }}</ref>

Knight quickly improved the program, which had not been to an NCAA tournament since 1996.<ref name="Indiana University Honors & Awards" /> He led the [[Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball|Red Raiders]] to postseason appearances in each of his first four years at the school (three NCAA Championship tournaments and one NIT).<ref name="Indiana University Honors & Awards" /> After a rough 2006 season, the team improved in 2007, finishing 21–13 and again making it to the NCAA tournament, where it lost to [[Boston College Eagles men's basketball|Boston College]] in the first round.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Texas Tech 75–84 Boston College (Mar 15, 2007) Final Score |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/_/gameId/274000026 |access-date=November 3, 2023 |publisher=ESPN |language=en}}</ref> The best performance by the Red Raiders under Knight came in 2005 when they advanced as far as the [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|Sweet Sixteen]].<ref name="Giese">{{Cite web |last=Giese |first=Nathan |title=A look at Bob Knight's time as Texas Tech basketball coach |url=https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/sports/college/red-raiders/2023/11/01/bob-knights-timeline-as-texas-tech-basketball-coach-death-83/71413863007/ |access-date=November 3, 2023 |website=[[Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]] |language=en-US}}</ref> In both 2006 and 2007 under Knight, Texas Tech defeated two Top 10-ranked teams in consecutive weeks. During Knight's first six years at Texas Tech, the Red Raiders won 126 games.<ref name="Mitchell-2023">{{Cite web |last1=Mitchell |first1=Dawn |last2=Glenesk |first2=Matthew |date=November 1, 2023 |title=Timeline: Bob Knight over the years — from Ohio schoolboy to Indiana legend |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2020/02/08/bobby-knight-timeline-indiana-basketball-coach-returns-assembly-hall/4421487002/ |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=The Indianapolis Star |language=en-US |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102021904/https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2020/02/08/bobby-knight-timeline-indiana-basketball-coach-returns-assembly-hall/4421487002/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

During Knight's coaching at Texas Tech, Knight was also involved in several controversies. In March 2006, a student's heckling at [[Baylor University]] resulted in Knight having to be restrained by a police officer. The incident was not severe enough to warrant any action from the [[Big 12 Conference]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Keith Whitmire |date=March 2, 2006 |title=Big 12 won't take action against Knight |newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/texastech/stories/030306dnspoknight.1c4691b0.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209053151/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/texastech/stories/030306dnspoknight.1c4691b0.html |archive-date=February 9, 2009}}</ref>

On November 13, 2006, Knight was shown allegedly hitting player Michael Prince under the chin to get him to make eye contact. Although Knight did not comment on the incident afterwards, Prince, his parents, and Texas Tech athletic director [[Gerald Myers]] insisted that Knight did nothing wrong and that he merely lifted Prince's chin and told him, "Hold your head up and don't worry about mistakes. Just play the game." Prince commented, "He was trying to teach me and I had my head down so he raised my chin up. He was telling me to go out there and don't be afraid to make mistakes. He said I was being too hard on myself." ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla defended Knight by saying "That's coaching!"<ref name="controversy">{{cite news |author=Chad, Norman |date=November 20, 2006 |title=Viewing the Knight file, through fact and fiction |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |url=https://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/chad/4350211.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 1, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604205514/http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/chad/4350211.html |archive-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref>

On October 21, 2007, James Simpson of [[Lubbock, Texas]], accused Knight of firing a shotgun in his direction after he yelled at Knight and another man for hunting too close to his home.<ref>{{cite news |author=Brandon George |date=November 29, 2007 |title=Bob Knight's hunting dispute on video |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/112907dnspoknight.4acb07d7.html |url-status=live |access-date=November 29, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071130172515/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/112907dnspoknight.4acb07d7.html |archive-date=November 30, 2007}}</ref> Knight denied the allegations; however, an argument between the two men was recorded via camera phone and aired later on television.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 4, 2008 |title=Bob Knight confronted during hunting trip |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/video/dallasnews/sports/index.html?nvid=196646 |url-status=live |access-date=September 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924213054/http://www.dallasnews.com/video/dallasnews/sports/index.html?nvid=196646 |archive-date=September 24, 2008}}</ref>

Knight won his 900th game in his coaching career on January 16, 2008, in a 68–58 win against [[Texas A&M University|Texas A&M]], but not before arguing with referees during the match.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 1, 2023 |title=Bob Knight's coaching tree spread far and wide |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/bob-knight-s-coaching-tree-spread-far-and-wide-18463245.php |access-date=November 4, 2023 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 1, 2023 |title=Bobby Knight, Indiana's Combustible Coaching Giant, Dies at Age 83 |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/bobby-knight-indiana-s-combustible-coaching-giant-dies-at-age-83/7338275.html |access-date=November 4, 2023 |publisher=[[Voice of America]] |agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref>

====Retirement====
On February 4, 2008, Knight announced his retirement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campbell |first=Lauren |date=November 1, 2023 |title=Bob Knight, polarizing college basketball coach, dies at 83 |url=https://www.masslive.com/sports/2023/11/bob-knight-legendary-college-basketball-coach-dies-at-83.html |access-date=November 3, 2023 |website=[[MassLive]] |language=en}}</ref> His son [[Pat Knight]], the head coach designate since 2005, was immediately named as his successor at Texas Tech.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 2, 2005 |title=Knight's successor is his son |url=https://www.deseret.com/2005/10/2/19915144/knight-s-successor-is-his-son |access-date=November 3, 2023 |website=[[Deseret News]] |agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref> The younger Knight had said that after many years of coaching, his father was exhausted and ready to retire.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/seth_davis/02/05/davis.night/|title='He was just worn out': Pat Knight sheds light on father's decision to leave|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|access-date=February 5, 2008|date=February 5, 2008|author=Davis, Seth|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208132022/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/seth_davis/02/05/davis.night/|archive-date=February 8, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Just after achieving his 900th win, Knight handed the job over to Pat in the mid-season in part to allow him to get acquainted with coaching the team earlier, instead of having him wait until October, the start of the next season.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/seth_davis/02/05/davis.night/ | publisher=CNN | title=Pat Knight sheds light on father's decision to leave | date=February 5, 2008 | access-date=April 26, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622035840/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/seth_davis/02/05/davis.night/ | archive-date=June 22, 2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Knight continued to live in [[Lubbock]] after he retired.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/sports/ncaabasketball/05knight.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin |title=Bob Knight Resigns as Coach of Texas Tech |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=February 4, 2008|date=February 4, 2008|author1=Thayer Evans |author2=Pete Thamel |author2-link=Pete Thamel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130021047/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/sports/ncaabasketball/05knight.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin|archive-date=November 30, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

===United States national team===
====1979 Pan American Games====
In 1978, Knight was named the head coach of the [[United States men's national basketball team|United States men's national team]] for the [[1979 Pan American Games]] in [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Knight picked to coach Pan American cage team |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/69294844/ |access-date=1 September 2024 |work=[[The Pantagraph]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=13 December 1978 |page=B2 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}{{open access}}</ref> The team, which included players such as [[Isiah Thomas]] and [[Ralph Sampson]], trained together for more than 50 days and played in a tournament in Italy before arriving in Puerto Rico. During the games, Knight led the United States to a 9–0 record, with an average victory of 21.2 points, and gold medal.<ref name="si-papanek-79"/><ref name="Weber-2023" />

However, his behaviour during the games, where he feuded with referees, officials and made critical comments about Puerto Rico, was heavily criticized,<ref>{{cite news |author1=John Jeansonne |title=The final score…. |url=https://johnfjeansonne.medium.com/the-final-score-7102653b65e8 |access-date=31 August 2024 |work=[[Medium.com]] |date=3 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Neil Amdur |title=Knight Scolded |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/07/04/archives/knight-scolded-us-five-wins-team-pulls-together-very-serious.html |access-date=31 August 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=4 July 1979}}{{closed access}}</ref> including by the president of the Basketball Federation of Puerto Rico, Arturo C. Gallardo, in a lengthy article in the [[New York Times]].<ref>{{cite news |author1=Arturo C. Gallardo |title=In the Matter of Bobby Knight: The View From Puerto Rico |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/12/30/archives/in-the-matter-of-bobby-knight-the-view-from-puerto-rico-remark.html |access-date=31 August 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=30 December 1979}}{{closed access}}</ref> During the first game, with the United States leading by 35 points, he was ejected for arguing with referees and in another incident during a practice session, Knight was accused of assaulting the policeman guarding the gymnasium and was arrested.<ref name="officer" /> Both Knight and assistant coach [[Mike Krzyzewski]] refuted the policeman's version of the incident, with Krzyzewski stating "It's really unbelievable, the out-and-out lies that are being told. It's like my standing here and saying that my name is not Mike Krzyzewski, that it's Fred Taylor."<ref name="si-papanek-79">{{cite magazine |author1=John Papanek |title=Triumph and turmoil in the Pan-Am games |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1979/07/23/triumph-and-turmoil-in-the-pan-am-games-his-basketball-players-won-gold-medals-but-coach-bobby-knight-precipitated-an-ugly-uproar-with-his-controversial-behavior-in-san-juan |access-date=31 August 2024 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=23 July 1979 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310222228/https://vault.si.com/vault/1979/07/23/triumph-and-turmoil-in-the-pan-am-games-his-basketball-players-won-gold-medals-but-coach-bobby-knight-precipitated-an-ugly-uproar-with-his-controversial-behavior-in-san-juan |archive-date=10 March 2021}}</ref> Knight was later charged with assault and summoned to appear before a judge but left the island before trial was held and refused to return with Indiana officials further rejecting Puerto Rican's extradition requests. He was later tried in absentia, found guilty and sentenced to a six-month prison term and a 500 dollar fine. Following a [[United States Supreme Court]] ruling in 1987 that overturned a law which gave state governors the power to reject extradition requests and opened up the possibility of his extradition to Puerto Rico, Knight wrote a letter to the [[Puerto Rico Olympic Committee]], [[Germán Rieckehoff]], apologizing for the incident. Rieckehoff "urged the Commonwealth not to consider any further legal action against Knight".<ref>{{cite news |title=Bobby Knight apologizes to Puerto Ricans for 1979 incident |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/07/22/Bobby-Knight-apologizes-to-Puerto-Ricans-for-1979-incident/3493553924800/ |access-date=31 August 2024 |work=[[United Press International]] |date=22 July 1987}}</ref>

====1984 Summer Olympics====
Despite the controversies, Knight was selected in 1982 to coach the [[1984 United States men's Olympic basketball team|U.S. national team]] at the [[1984 Summer Olympic Games]].<ref>{{cite news |author1=Larry Edsall |title=Is the gold worth Knight's antics? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1080018624/ |access-date=1 September 2024 |work=[[The Muskegon Chronicle]] |agency=Booth News Service |date=5 August 1984 |page=3C |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}{{closed access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=[[Kevin Cowherd]] |title=Bob Knight can coach, but should he be ours? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/140792431/ |access-date=1 September 2024 |publisher=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |date=21 April 1984 |page=3B |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}{{closed access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Denis Collins |title=Knight, Preparing for Olympics, Would Leave 'Incident' Behind |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1982/08/01/knight-preparing-for-olympics-would-leave-incident-behind/638e8b51-b42f-4440-9cfe-a9a8a9d353c4/ |access-date=31 August 2024 |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |date=1 August 1982}}{{closed access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=[[George Vecsey]] |title=Not the Real Bobby Knight |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/16/sports/sports-of-the-times-not-the-real-bobby-knight.html |access-date=31 August 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=16 June 1982}}</ref> He held a 72 player tryout camp in April 1984 before settling on the 12 man roster which included [[Michael Jordan]], [[Patrick Ewing]], [[Chris Mullin]] and Knight's Indiana player and protégé [[Steve Alford]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jeff Turner Still Cherishes 1984 Olympic Gold Medal |url=https://www.nba.com/magic/news/jeff-turner-still-cherishes-1984-olympic-gold-medal-cohen-20160805 |access-date=November 2, 2023 |publisher=National Basketball Association |language=en |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102021901/https://www.nba.com/magic/news/jeff-turner-still-cherishes-1984-olympic-gold-medal-cohen-20160805 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="HOOPS">{{cite book |last=Cunningham |first=Carson |title=American Hoops: U.S. Men's Olympic Basketball From Berlin to Beijing |publisher=University of Nebraska Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-8032-2293-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Bob Knight's moves with 1984 US Olympic team showed his scouting skills matched his tactical skills |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/bob-knights-moves-with-1984-us-olympic-team-showed-his-scouting-skills-matched-his-tactical-skills |access-date=31 August 2024 |work=[[Fox Sports]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=2 November 2023}}</ref>

Worries that his behavior would again cause embarrassment during the games turned out to be unfounded and, despite rants and raves at officials, Knight was considered to be on his best behavior.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fears of basketball Knight-mare eased by unusually diplomatic Indiana coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/129496390/ |access-date=1 September 2024 |work=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=8 August 1984 |page=D2 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}{{open access}}</ref> He led the United States to victory in all eight games and to a gold medal.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Doug Haller |title=Knight, Barkley, Stockton and the bus of shame: Tales from the 1984 Olympic trials |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2173922/2021/01/14/bobby-knight-1984-olympic-trials-barkley-jordan-basketball/ |access-date=1 September 2024 |work=[[The Athletic]] |publisher=[[The New York Times]] |date=14 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Bobby Knight, who coached 1984 U.S. Olympic men's basketball team to gold, dies at 83 |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/bobby-knight-dies-basketball-coach-olympics-michael-jordan |access-date=31 August 2024 |work=[[NBC Sports]] |date=1 November 2023}}</ref> Doing so, Knight joined [[Pete Newell]] and [[Dean Smith]] as the only three coaches to win an NCAA title, NIT title, and Olympic gold.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bob Knight|publisher=Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame|url=https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/bob-knight/|access-date=November 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=John|last=Feinstein|title=Knight, Smith: in Atlanta, Going First Class by Coach|date=March 22, 1984|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1984/03/22/knight-smith-in-atlanta-going-first-class-by-coach/fbd392df-48bb-4ad8-a97f-e1562bcc1a11/|access-date=November 4, 2023}}</ref>