Bob Knight, the legendary Indiana basketball coach and firebrand courtside personality, died at the age of 83 on Wednesday, his family confirmed in a statement.
From winning three national titles with the Hoosiers to being ejected for throwing a chair onto the basketball court in frustration in 1985, Knight became synonymous with college basketball, for better and for worse.
After joining the Hoosiers in 1971 following a stint at Army, his Indiana teams were some of the most ferocious of the 1970s and 1980s, and he entrenched himself in Bloomington as the most notable sports figure in Indiana history.
Knight’s career cannot be remembered without his infamous temper and a lengthy history of violent acts, like in 1997 when he was videoed choking one of his Indiana players.
He played college ball at Ohio State and coached at Texas Tech after he was fired from Indiana in 2000. He led the Red Raiders from 2001 until 2008, where he would win his 900th game and eventually retire. His son Pat coached at Texas Tech for three seasons after his father’s exit.
After his coaching days, Knight worked as a broadcaster at ESPN until 2015. He finally returned to Indiana in 2020, roughly two decades after his firing, for a basketball game.
Many in the sports world offered condolences for Knight’s passing, remembering his coaching and his short fuse.
Bob Knight has passed away at the age of 83.
1x NCAA Champion (player)
3x NCAA Champion (coach)
5x Final Four
11x Big Ten Champion
3x AP Coach of the Year
1x Naismith Coach of the Year
1991 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame InducteeA true legend. pic.twitter.com/7GSDd1y3Ty
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) November 1, 2023
R.I.P coach ! One of the best if not the greatest to ever do it. Prayers are with the knight family. Hoosier Nation mourns with you. 🙏🏾🏀 https://t.co/a4EYhofxjW
— Christian Watford (@Cwat205) November 1, 2023
There will never be another like Bob Knight. May his blessing be a memory. https://t.co/LlXejem3Ot
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) November 1, 2023
"When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want them to bury me upside down, and my critics can kiss my ass!"
No one quite like Coach Knight.
RIP to one of the greatest to ever do it. https://t.co/knpPJcvpiZ
— Griffin Gonzalez (@grifgonzo) November 1, 2023
RIP to Bob Knight. 🙏 https://t.co/CfH4GRxZfQ pic.twitter.com/YWPlTZ751Q
— Zion O. (@DukeNBA) November 1, 2023
One of the most powerful forces the state has seen in the last century.
A complicated man with a complicated legacy, but undeniably one of the best to ever do it and a giant of the sport. https://t.co/dyIIreW1fh
— Chris Schutte (@ChrisSchutte3) November 1, 2023
Remember Quinn Buckner telling me as a young reporter that Bob Knight wasn’t for everybody. He was right. I grew up in an era where lots of my coaches were from the Knight mold. Didn’t always like them, but look back and realize they prepared me for life’s challenges. RIP coach. https://t.co/30zoLEMMyT
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) November 1, 2023
One of the all-time coaches in college basketball history – ranking 6th all time with 902 victories – has passed away. RIP Bob Knight. https://t.co/JDzFVBftBV
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) November 1, 2023
Rest in peace, Coach. 😢 https://t.co/CBWB98bOOD
— Assembly Call (⚪,🔴) (@AssemblyCall) November 1, 2023
First Leach, now Knight…
My two favorite Texas Tech coaches growing up as a Red Raider. The early 2000s were a fun time to be a Tech fan!
RIP to legendary coach, Bob Knight 🙏 https://t.co/l70emvtyGf
— Ramblin’ Raiders Entertainment 📍 (@RamblinRaiders) November 1, 2023
IU legend Bob Knight — for better and for worse — has died.
He came back to IU in his last years to be with friends and the community where he was treated like a god before he died.
I wrote this, which has been so meaningful to my career, when he came home:… https://t.co/sk3FjFRROp
— Matt Cohen (@Matt_Cohen_) November 1, 2023
Bob Knight passes away at the age of 83. Extremely sad day for the Indiana program. #iubb https://t.co/9iSfWSFlTX
— Alec Lasley (@allasley) November 1, 2023
#RIP to the legend Bobby Knight, there will definitely never be another one like him. https://t.co/DTAGOIvfSr
— Eldridge Recasner (@erecasner) November 1, 2023
We all have certain feelings when it comes to Bob Knight but what can’t be debated is that the Purdue – IU 🏀 rivalry isn’t close to what it is today without Bob Knight. https://t.co/1RL67lHUeP
— Boiler Breakdown 🚂 (@BoilerBreakPod) November 1, 2023
An absolute legend. One of the best to ever do it. RIP Coach Knight. https://t.co/FfHCE4twMT
— Dominic Miranda (@DomMirandaTV) November 1, 2023
Rest in peace, Coach Knight 🙏🏻 https://t.co/7fAl4ZGxea
— Talia Goodman (@goodmansport) November 1, 2023
RIP to the legend. Let's hope they bury him upside down. https://t.co/kurtYQwhjq
— Matt Cahill (@drabtshirt) November 1, 2023
