Legendary College Basketball Coach Bob Knight Dies At 83
Legendary college basketball coach Bob Knight has died at the age of 83. His family posted the following to his website earlier tonight:
“It is with heavy hearts that we share that Coach Bob Knight passed away at his home in Bloomington surrounded by his family. 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.
In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Coach with a memorial contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association or Marian University.
To donate, please visit:
In Memory of Coach Bob Knight – Alzheimer’s Association The Alzheimer’s Association leads the charge in Alzheimer’s care, support, research and advocacy.
In Memory of Coach Bob Knight – Marian University Marian University provides an education distinguished in its ability to prepare transformative leaders for service to the world.
Donations to any charity in his name are also appreciated.”
His legacy
According to ESPN, Knight was the sixth-winningest coach in Division I men’s college basketball history. He became the youngest coach at a Division I school in 1965 when he became the head coach for Army at age 24. But his main legacy came from his 29 years as the coach of the Indiana Hoosiers. It was there that he won 661 games and reached the NCAA tournament 24 times in 29 seasons. Knight’s first NCAA title came in 1976. That year, Indiana went undefeated, a feat no team has accomplished since.
He was a colorful figure as well. Yahoo Sports called him “The last of a certain breed, a terrifying tyrant seemingly incapable of interacting with the outside world yet also a skilled, masterful teacher and loyal supporter for all who managed to survive playing for him.” The Washington Post called him “one of the most complicated and polarizing figures in sports.”
Knight was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991. According to the Hall of Fame, he won three National Championships, was named a Big Ten Coach of the Year five times and a National Coach of the Year four times. He also won an Olympic gold medal in 1984.
Celebrity Deaths 2023: Musicians, Entertainers & Cultural Figures We Lost
