Bob Knight, the legendary basketball coach known for his Hall of Fame career, including three national titles at Indiana, has passed away at the age of 83.
Knight's family revealed the news of his passing on Wednesday night. The iconic coach had been dealing with health issues for several years and was hospitalized due to an illness back in April.
"He told our 1976 team, which I was on, that you may never see another team like this again," Indiana University board of trustees chair Quinn Buckner recalled. "Well, I don't know that we will ever see another coach like him again."
Knight's illustrious coaching career saw him achieve the feat of winning 20 or more games in a season an impressive 29 times. Over the course of his career, he amassed a remarkable record of 902 wins and 371 losses.
He led the final American amateur team to Olympic gold in 1984 in Los Angeles. As expected, it was controversial. Knight retained Steve Alford, the captain of Knight's 1987 national championship team, but dismissing Charles Barkley and John Stockton.
"I'm grateful he saw something in me as a basketball player," said Indiana coach Mike Woodson. "He changed my life in ways I can't repay. Like all his players, he challenged me to be my best as a player and a person. His basketball coaching record speaks for itself. He will be remembered as excellent."
Knight, nicknamed as "The General," was dismissed from Indiana in 2000 for violating a "zero tolerance" behavior policy by seizing a freshman who he said addressed him by his last name. Before his final offense, he was accused of many violent confrontations and tossing a chair at a Purdue game. Knight seemed to choke Neil Reed in 1997 practice.
Knight departed Indiana to coach at Texas Tech in 2001, six months after being sacked for a "pattern of unacceptable behavior."
Coach Knight will be recognized as one of the best coaches in Texas Tech and collegiate basketball history "Texas Tech Athletics said. His motion offense and demand that his teams be defined by their defense altered the game.
He was a staunch promoter of student-athlete education, as seen by his teams' near-perfect graduation rates. Knight's term as our basketball coach will be remembered as one of the best."
One of the best basketball coaches died today. "He was unique," said former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who played under Knight at Army and became the winningest Division I college basketball coach in 2011. "Coach Knight recruited, mentored, and changed my career and life. His death is a great loss for our sport, and our family is devastated."
Robert Montgomery Knight, born Oct. 25, 1940, in Orrville, Ohio, was an Orrville High School basketball, baseball, and football star. He had a 78-6 record at Ohio State. Knight was 0-for-1 with one personal foul in a 75-55 triumph against California in the 1960 national title game and averaged 3.7 points as a sub. The Buckeyes won Big Ten crowns in all three of Knight's seasons.
After six years at Army (1965-71), Knight proceeded to Indiana, where his Hoosiers went 662-239 from 1971-00. He won national titles there in 1976, 1981, and 1987 wearing his red sweater.
"I was standing there, and he was Coach Knight," remembered former player Randy Wittman, who played a pivotal role in the reunion. "It was as if he hadn't left that locker room. The words he shared with those players before they took the floor were simply fabulous."