Bob Knight born Robert Montgomery Knight was an American basketball coach.
Bob was best known for coaching the Indiana Hoosiers for nearly three decades, from 1971 to 2000.
During his tenure, he led the Hoosiers to three NCAA championships and 11 Big Ten Conference championships, and had two undefeated seasons.
Bob Knight also coached for the Army and Texas Tech, and led the US men’s basketball team to a gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Within the NCAA Division I, Bobby won 902 games. That’s the highest of any retired coach, and third behind current coaches.
While renowned for his coaching acumen, he also attracted controversy for his hot-tempered and frequently abusive behavior.
He famously threw a chair across the court during a game. After retiring, Bobby served as a part-time commentator with ESPN from 2008 to 2015.
Bob Knight Biography
Bob Knight was born in 1940 in the town of Massillon, Ohio, and grew up in Orrville, Ohio. He began playing organized basketball at Orrville High School.
For college, Knight went to the Ohio State University from 1958 to 1962. There, he played college basketball under Hall of Fame coach Fred Taylor.
In 1960, Knight and the Ohio State Buckeyes won the NCAA championship title.
They subsequently made it to two further consecutive championships, but fell to the Cincinnati Bearcats both times.
Bob Knight Coaching career
Army (1965-1971): Bob Knight started his head coaching career at Army, where he led the Black Knights to four post-season tournament appearances in six seasons.
He had a record of 102-50 at Army.
Indiana (1971-2000): Bob Knight moved to Indiana in 1971 and turned the Hoosiers into a powerhouse.
He won three NCAA titles (1976, 1981, 1987), one NIT title (1979), and 11 Big Ten titles.
He had a record of 662-239 at Indiana. He also coached the USA men’s Olympic team to a gold medal in 1984.
Texas Tech (2001-2008): Knight finished his coaching career at Texas Tech, where he revived the Red Raiders program.
He led them to four NCAA tournament appearances and one NIT title. He had a record of 138-82 at Texas Tech.
He retired in 2008 with 902 wins, the most in Division I men’s basketball history at the time.
Legacy and Controversy: Knight is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential coaches in college basketball history.
He is known for his innovative motion offense, his defensive intensity, and his mentorship of many successful coaches and players.
He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991 and the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
However, he is also notorious for his volatile temper, his physical and verbal confrontations with players, officials, media, and fans, and his dismissal from Indiana in 2000 after violating a zero-tolerance policy.
Bob Knight Wife
Bob Knight’s wife is Karen Vieth Edgar, who is his second spouse. He married her in 1988, after divorcing his first wife Nancy Falk in 1986.
Karen Vieth Edgar is a former teacher and administrator at Bloomington High School North.
She supported Knight during his coaching career and his health issues.
She also helped him reconcile with Indiana University after years of estrangement.
Bob Knight Children
Bob Knight had two children from his first marriage to Nancy Falk. They are Tim Knight and Pat Knight.
Tim Knight is a former assistant athletic director at Texas Tech University and a businessman.
Pat Knight is a former basketball coach at Texas Tech, Lamar, and North Alabama.
Bob Knight also had a daughter, Karen, from his second marriage to Karen Vieth Edgar.
She is a teacher and administrator at Bloomington High School North.
Bob Knight Parent
Bob Knight’s parents were Hazel Knight and Pat Knight. They had two sons, Bob and Randy.
Bob Knight grew up in Orrville, Ohio, where his father worked as a railroad engineer and his mother was a homemaker.
Bob Knight Siblings
Bob Knight had one sibling, a younger brother named Randy Knight. He was born in 1943, two years after Bob.
He grew up in Orrville, Ohio, where he played basketball and football in high school. He later became a lawyer and a judge in Wayne County, Ohio.
He was also involved in politics and ran for Congress in 1992, but lost to Democrat Sherrod Brown. He died of cancer in 2014 at the age of 71.
Bob Knight Family
Bob Knight had a large and supportive family. Here is a list of his family members and their relationships to him:
Karen Vieth Edgar: His second wife, whom he married in 1988. She was a former teacher and administrator at Bloomington High School North.
Nancy Falk: His first wife, whom he divorced in 1986. She was the mother of his two sons, Tim and Pat.
Tim Knight: His eldest son, who was a former assistant athletic director at Texas Tech and a businessman.
Pat Knight: His younger son, who was a former basketball coach at Texas Tech, Lamar, and North Alabama.
Karen Knight: His daughter, who was born in 1989 from his second marriage. She was a teacher and administrator at Bloomington High School North.
Randy Knight: His younger brother, who was born in 1943. He was a lawyer and a judge in Wayne County, Ohio. He died of cancer in 2014.
Hazel Knight: His mother, who was a homemaker. She divorced his father when he was in high school. She died in 1999.
Pat Knight: His father, who was a railroad engineer. He became estranged from his son after the divorce. He died in 1984.
Maternal grandmother: His grandmother, who lived with his family and supported his interest in basketball. She died in 1977.
Bob Knight Net worth
Bobby Knight was American basketball coach who had a net worth of $8 million at the time of his death.
He earned most of his wealth from his long and successful coaching career at Army, Indiana, and Texas Tech.
He also worked as a commentator for ESPN and wrote several books.
Bob Knight Death cause
Bob Knight, the legendary college basketball coach, died on November 1, 2023 at the age of 83.
His family announced his death on social media, but did not reveal the cause of death.
However, some reports suggest that he had been battling dementia and other health issues for a long time.
He was hospitalized earlier this year with an acute illness.
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