Major Controversies Surrounding Bob Knight: A Detailed Timeline

Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Bob Knight.

Robert Montgomery "Bob" Knight, nicknamed "the General," was a highly successful and controversial American college basketball coach. He is best known for his tenure at Indiana University, where he won three national championships. Knight was renowned for his demanding coaching style, discipline, and strategic brilliance. He achieved 902 NCAA Division I men's basketball wins, a record when he retired and sixth all-time upon his death. Despite his coaching achievements, Knight's career was also marked by volatile behavior, including confrontations with players, officials, and the media.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1966: Knight's Outburst at NIT

Following Army's loss to BYU in the 1966 NIT semifinals, Knight had an explosive outburst, kicking lockers and verbally blasting the officials. He later apologized to BYU coach Stan Watts.

December 7, 1974: Knight Hits Kentucky Coach

On December 7, 1974, during a game against Kentucky, Knight hit Kentucky coach Joe B. Hall in the back of the head while complaining to an official, leading to a confrontation.

1976: Knight Grabs Player

In 1976, Knight grabbed IU basketball player Jim Wisman and jerked him into his seat.

January 31, 1981: Alleged "Sucker Punch" in Indiana-Purdue Game

On January 31, 1981, in a game between Indiana and Purdue, Isiah Thomas allegedly hit Purdue guard Roosevelt Barnes, but video replay showed Barnes threw the first punch.

February 7, 1981: Knight's "Jackass" Incident

On February 7, 1981, Knight brought a "jackass" (male donkey) wearing a Purdue hat onto his television show as a representative of Purdue, after claiming derisive chants were directed at him, his wife, and Indiana University during a game at Purdue.

February 23, 1985: Knight Throws Chair Across Court

On February 23, 1985, during a Purdue–Indiana game, Knight threw a chair across the court after being assessed a technical foul, resulting in his ejection from the game.

1985: Allegations of Abuse Begin

In 1985, according to Todd Jadlow's book, Bob Knight allegedly began a pattern of physical abuse, including punching players and squeezing their testicles.

1987: Extradition Possibility and Apology

Following a United States Supreme Court ruling in 1987, Bob Knight, facing possible extradition to Puerto Rico over a past assault charge, wrote a letter to the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee apologizing for the incident.

April 1988: Controversial "Rape" Comment

In April 1988, Bob Knight made a controversial statement during an interview with Connie Chung, saying, "I think that if rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it." The remark sparked outrage from women's groups across the nation.

1989: Allegations of Abuse Continue

According to Todd Jadlow's book, the alleged abuse by Bob Knight, which started in 1985, continued through 1989, including punching players and squeezing their testicles.

1997: Neil Reed Choking Allegation

In 1997, former player Neil Reed claimed that Knight choked him during a practice.

March 14, 2000: CNN Airs Reed Choking Allegations

On March 14, 2000, the CNN Sports Illustrated network aired a piece on Robert Abbott's investigation of Knight. The story included former player Neil Reed's claim that Knight had choked him during a 1997 practice, which Knight denied.

September 2000: Firing of Bob Knight

In September 2000, Bob Knight was fired from Indiana University after an incident with freshman Kent Harvey and numerous other complaints. This led to student outrage and protests.

2000: Knight Fired from Indiana University

In the fall of 2000, Knight was fired by Indiana University following a run-in with a student, after the university had instated a "zero tolerance" policy for him.

March 2006: Heckling Incident at Baylor

In March 2006, Knight was involved in a heckling incident at Baylor University, where he had to be restrained by a police officer. The Big 12 Conference did not take any action.

November 13, 2006: Alleged Hitting of Michael Prince

On November 13, 2006, Bob Knight allegedly hit player Michael Prince under the chin. However, Prince, his parents, and Texas Tech's athletic director insisted that Knight was merely trying to teach Prince to hold his head up and not worry about mistakes.

October 21, 2007: Shotgun Incident Allegation

On October 21, 2007, James Simpson accused Knight of firing a shotgun in his direction, following an argument over hunting too close to his home. Knight denied the allegations, but the argument was recorded and aired on television.

2008: Volkswagen Commercial Appearance

In 2008, Knight appeared in a Volkswagen commercial as part of the Das Auto series, where he threw a chair off the stage after a comment about winning a title.

April 18, 2011: Comments on Kentucky Basketball Team

On April 18, 2011, a video surfaced showing Knight criticizing John Calipari and Kentucky's basketball team, claiming players hadn't attended classes, which later proved false, leading to an apology from Knight.

March 2017: Knight's Disdain for Indiana

In March 2017, during an interview on "The Dan Patrick Show", Bob Knight stated he had no interest in ever returning to Indiana and expressed a wish that those who fired him were dead.