History of Bob Knight in Timeline
Bob Knight, nicknamed "the General," was a highly successful and controversial American college basketball coach. He achieved 902 NCAA Division I men's basketball wins, a record upon his retirement and sixth all-time upon his death, solidifying his place as one of the most impactful figures in the sport.
October 25, 1940: Bob Knight's Birth
On October 25, 1940, Robert Montgomery "Bobby" Knight was born. He later became a prominent American college basketball coach.
1958: Ohio State
In 1958, Bob Knight began his time at Ohio State, playing under coach Fred Taylor.
1960: NCAA Championship
In 1960, Bob Knight, as a reserve forward, was a member of the Ohio State Buckeyes team that won the NCAA championship.
1960: Olympic Gold Medal
In 1960, Douglas Blubaugh won an Olympic gold medal.
1961: Played in Championship Game
During the 1961 NCAA championship game, Knight came off the bench late in the game.
1961: NCAA Finals Loss
In 1961, Bob Knight was a member of the Buckeyes team that lost in the NCAA finals to the Cincinnati Bearcats.
1962: Coaching Junior Varsity
After graduating in 1962, Bob Knight coached junior varsity basketball at Cuyahoga Falls High School in Ohio for one year.
1962: Graduation from Ohio State
In 1962, Bob Knight graduated from Ohio State with a degree in history and government.
1962: NCAA Finals Loss
In 1962, Bob Knight was again a member of the Buckeyes team that lost in the NCAA finals to the Cincinnati Bearcats.
April 17, 1963: Marriage to Nancy Falk
On April 17, 1963, Knight married Nancy Falk. They later had two sons, Tim and Pat.
June 1963: Enlistment in the U.S. Army
In June 1963, Bob Knight enlisted in the U.S. Army and served on active duty.
September 1963: Transferred to West Point
In September 1963, Bob Knight was transferred to West Point, New York, while serving in the U.S. Army.
1963: Assistant Coaching Position
In 1963, Bob Knight accepted an assistant coaching position with the Army Black Knights while serving in the army.
June 1965: End of Active Duty
In June 1965, Bob Knight ended his active duty service in the U.S. Army.
1965: Head Coach at Army
In 1965, Bob Knight became the head coach of the Army Black Knights.
1966: NIT Semifinal Loss
After Army's loss to BYU in the 1966 NIT Semifinals, Bob Knight had an explosive reaction, demonstrating his fiery temper.
April 3, 1968: Wisconsin Head Coaching Vacancy
On April 3, 1968, John Erickson resigned from the Wisconsin men's basketball head coach position. Bob Knight was considered for the job but ultimately withdrew his candidacy.
May 1969: End of Army Reserves Service
In May 1969, Bob Knight ended his service in the U.S. Army Reserves.
1971: Head Coach at Indiana
In 1971, Bob Knight became the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers.
1971: Hired by Indiana University
In 1971, Bob Knight was hired as head coach by Indiana University Bloomington.
1972: Won Big Ten Championship
In 1972, Bob Knight's second year as coach at Indiana, his team won the Big Ten championship.
1973: Douglas Blubaugh Confrontation
In 1973, Bob Knight had a confrontation with head wrestling coach Douglas Blubaugh in the practice facility.
1973: Final Four Appearance
In 1973, Bob Knight's Indiana team reached the Final Four, losing to UCLA.
1973: Big Ten Coach of the Year
In 1973, Knight was named Big Ten Coach of the Year.
1973: Reached Final Four
In 1973, Knight's Indiana team won the Big Ten championship and reached the Final Four, losing to UCLA.
December 7, 1974: Incident with Joe B. Hall
On December 7, 1974, during a game against Kentucky, Bob Knight hit Kentucky coach Joe B. Hall in the back of the head.
1974: Don Fischer begins radio announcer career.
In 1974, Don Fischer began his career as a radio announcer for IU.
1974: Hoosiers achieve 86 victories
In 1974, Knight's Indiana teams of 1974–76 set a record of 86 victories, which was broken between 1990-93.
1975: Pre-Championship Season
In 1975, Bob Knight's Indiana Hoosiers had a strong season, setting the stage for their undefeated championship run the following year.
1975: National Coach of the Year
In 1975, Knight was named National Coach of the Year.
1975: Perfect Regular Season
In 1975, the Hoosiers had a perfect regular season and a perfect record in Big Ten games.
1976: Incident with Jim Wisman
In 1976, Bob Knight grabbed IU basketball player Jim Wisman and jerked him into his seat.
1976: National Coach of the Year
In 1976, Knight was named National Coach of the Year by the Associated Press.
1976: NCAA Title Win
In 1976, the Indiana Hoosiers under Bob Knight won the NCAA title.
1978: Named Head Coach for Pan American Games
In 1978, Knight was named the head coach of the United States men's national team for the 1979 Pan American Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
1979: Pan American Games Gold Medal
In 1979, Bob Knight won a gold medal at the Pan American Games as the coach of the U.S. men's national team.
1979: NIT Championship Win
In 1979, Indiana, led by Mike Woodson, won the NIT championship.
1979: Gold Medal at Pan American Games
In 1979, Knight coached the United States to a gold medal at the Pan American Games with a 9-0 record.
1980: Big Ten Coach of the Year
In 1980, Knight was named Big Ten Coach of the Year.
1980: Sweet Sixteen Appearance
In 1980, led by Mike Woodson and Isiah Thomas, the Hoosiers advanced to the 1980 Sweet Sixteen.
January 31, 1981: Incident with Isiah Thomas
On January 31, 1981, during a game between Indiana and Purdue, Isiah Thomas allegedly hit Purdue guard Roosevelt Barnes, leading to controversy.
February 7, 1981: Jackass on TV Show
On February 7, 1981, Bob Knight brought a "jackass" (male donkey) wearing a Purdue hat onto his television show after claiming derisive chants were directed at him and his wife at Purdue.
1981: NCAA Tournament Win
In 1981, Isiah Thomas and the Hoosiers won the Big Ten Title and the NCAA Tournament.
1981: Big Ten Coach of the Year
In 1981, Knight was named Big Ten Coach of the Year.
1982: Selection as Olympic Coach
In 1982, Knight was selected to coach the U.S. national team at the 1984 Summer Olympic Games.
1982: No. 1 Ranked Hoosiers
In 1982, with the play of Uwe Blab and All-Americans Ted Kitchel and Randy Wittman, the Hoosiers were ranked No. 1 and favorites to win another national championship.
1983: Lost in Sweet Sixteen
In 1983, after an injury to Ted Kitchel, the No. 1 ranked Hoosiers lost to Kentucky in the Sweet Sixteen.
April 1984: Tryout Camp for Olympic Team
In April 1984, Knight held a tryout camp with 72 players to select the U.S. national team for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games.
1984: Summer Olympics Gold Medal
In 1984, Bob Knight coached the U.S. men's national team to a gold medal at the Summer Olympics.
1984: Douglas Blubaugh Leaves IU
In 1984, Douglas Blubaugh concluded his time as head wrestling coach at Indiana University.
February 23, 1985: Chair Throwing Incident
On February 23, 1985, during a Purdue-Indiana game, Bob Knight threw a chair across the floor after receiving a technical foul and was ejected from the game.
1985: Alleged Abuse of Players
From 1985 to 1989, Bob Knight allegedly punched Todd Jadlow in the face and committed other abuses, as detailed in Jadlow's book.
1985: Divorce from Nancy Falk
In 1985, Knight divorced his first wife, Nancy Falk.
1985: Access Granted
In 1985, Knight granted author John Feinstein almost unprecedented access to the Indiana basketball program for the book 'A Season on the Brink'.
1986: Publication of 'A Season on the Brink'
In 1986, John Feinstein published "A Season on the Brink", detailing the 1985-86 season of the Indiana Hoosiers and offering insights into Knight's life. The book became a bestseller and spawned a new genre of sports books.
1986: A Season on the Brink
In 1986, the Hoosiers were profiled in the bestselling book 'A Season on the Brink' by John Feinstein.
1986: Adoption of the Three-Point Shot
In 1986, the three-point shot was adopted by the NCAA, though Knight opposed it, he also acknowledged it complemented his team's offense.
1987: Supreme Court ruling opens extradition possibility
Following a United States Supreme Court ruling in 1987, that opened up the possibility of his extradition to Puerto Rico, Knight wrote a letter to the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee, apologizing for the incident.
1987: Naismith Coach of the Year Award
In 1987, Knight was the first person to be honored with the Naismith Coach of the Year Award.
1987: Third National Championship
In 1987, led by All-American Steve Alford, the Hoosiers captured a share of the Big Ten title and won Knight's third national championship against Syracuse in the 1987 NCAA tournament.
1987: NCAA Title Win
In 1987, the Indiana Hoosiers under Bob Knight won their third NCAA title.
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." These comments sparked outrage from women's groups nationwide.
1988: Marriage to Karen Vieth Edgar
In 1988, Knight married his second wife, Karen Vieth Edgar, a former Oklahoma high school basketball coach.
1988: Big Ten Championship
In 1988, led by All-American Jay Edwards, the Hoosiers won a Big Ten championship.
1989: Alleged Abuse of Players
From 1985 to 1989, Bob Knight allegedly punched Todd Jadlow in the face and committed other abuses, as detailed in Jadlow's book.
1989: National Coach of the Year
In 1989, Knight was named National Coach of the Year by the AP, UPI, and the United States Basketball Writers Association.
1990: Publication of 'Hoosier Honor: Bob Knight and Academic Success at Indiana University'
In 1990, Robert P. Sulek wrote "Hoosier Honor: Bob Knight and Academic Success at Indiana University" which discusses the academic side of the basketball program, detailing all of the players that played for Knight and what degree they earned.
1990: Publication of 'Playing for Knight: My Six Seasons with Bobby Knight'
In 1990, former player Steve Alford wrote "Playing for Knight: My Six Seasons with Bobby Knight", published in 1990.
1990: Hoosiers achieve 87 victories
In 1990, the Indiana Hoosiers achieved 87 victories. This was the most by any Big Ten team in a three-year span. The Hoosiers also captured two Big Ten crowns in 1990-91 and 1992-93.
1991: Induction into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
In 1991, Bob Knight was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
1991: Hoosiers capture Big Ten crown
In 1991, Knight's Indiana team captured the Big Ten crown.
1991: Induction into Basketball Hall of Fame
Knight was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991.
1992: Reached Final Four
During the 1992 season, Knight's Indiana team reached the Final Four.
1992: Final Four Appearance
In 1992, Bob Knight's Indiana team reached the Final Four again.
1992: Big Ten Coach of the Year
In 1992, Knight was named Big Ten Coach of the Year.
1993: Big Ten Coach of the Year
In 1993, Knight was named Big Ten Coach of the Year.
1993: Last Conference Championship
In 1993, Knight won his last conference championship.
1994: Appearance in film 'Blue Chips'
In 1994, Knight appeared in the film "Blue Chips", which featured a character modeled after him. He coached against Nick Nolte in the film.
1994: Last Trip to Sweet Sixteen
In 1994, Knight made his last trip to the Sweet Sixteen.
1996: Knight improves Red Raiders program
In 1996, Knight improved the Red Raiders program and led them to an NCAA tournament.
1997: Choking incident
In 1997, Knight appeared to place his hand on the neck of Neil Reed during practice.
March 14, 2000: Neil Reed Choking Allegation
On March 14, 2000, CNN Sports Illustrated aired a piece on Robert Abbott's investigation of Knight. Former player Neil Reed claimed Knight choked him during a 1997 practice, which Knight initially denied.
September 2000: Firing from Indiana University
In September 2000, after a "zero tolerance" policy was implemented and following an incident with freshman Kent Harvey, Indiana University president Myles Brand fired Bob Knight.
2000: End of Indiana Coaching
In 2000, Bob Knight's tenure as the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers came to an end.
2000: Firing from Indiana University
In the fall of 2000, Bob Knight was fired by Indiana University following a run-in with a student and the university's "zero tolerance" policy.
2001: Head Coach at Texas Tech
In 2001, Bob Knight became the head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
2002: ESPN's 'A Season on the Brink' adaptation
In 2002, ESPN adapted John Feinstein's book into a film titled "A Season on the Brink", with Brian Dennehy playing Knight.
2003: Cameo in 'Anger Management'
In 2003, Knight made a cameo appearance as himself in the film "Anger Management."
2003: Publication of Knight's autobiography
In 2003, Knight's autobiography, "Knight: My Story", written with Bob Hammel, was published.
2005: Sweet Sixteen Appearance with Texas Tech
In 2005, Knight led Texas Tech to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA tournament.
2005: Pat Knight designated as Head Coach
In 2005, Pat Knight was designated as Head Coach by his father, Bob Knight.
March 2006: Heckling Incident at Baylor University
In March 2006, Knight had to be restrained by a police officer after a student's heckling at Baylor University. This incident did not lead to any action from the Big 12 Conference.
November 17, 2006: Induction into National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
On November 17, 2006, Bob Knight was recognized for his impact on college basketball and inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the founding class.
2006: Texas Tech Improvement
After a rough 2006 season, the Texas Tech team improved in 2007, finishing 21-13 and again making it to the NCAA tournament, where it lost to Boston College in the first round. In both 2006 and 2007 under Knight, Texas Tech defeated two Top 10-ranked teams in consecutive weeks.
January 1, 2007: Career Victories Record
On January 1, 2007, Knight achieved his 880th career win, surpassing Dean Smith for most career victories.
October 21, 2007: Shotgun Allegations
On October 21, 2007, Knight was accused of firing a shotgun in the direction of James Simpson after an argument. Knight denied the allegations.
November 29, 2007: Texas Tech Library Exhibit Honoring Knight
On November 29, 2007, the Texas Tech library honored Knight's contributions with "A Legacy of Giving: The Bob Knight Exhibit."
2007: Texas Tech Improvement
After a rough 2006 season, the Texas Tech team improved in 2007, finishing 21-13 and again making it to the NCAA tournament, where it lost to Boston College in the first round. In both 2006 and 2007 under Knight, Texas Tech defeated two Top 10-ranked teams in consecutive weeks.
2007: NCAA Tournament Appearance Record
In 2007, Knight's Texas Tech team made it to the NCAA tournament, giving Knight more NCAA tournament appearances than any other coach at the time.
2007: Partial Retirement
Partway through the 2007-08 season, Bob Knight retired and was replaced by his son Pat Knight as coach at Texas Tech.
January 16, 2008: 900th Career Win
On January 16, 2008, Knight achieved his 900th career win against Texas A&M, though he argued with referees during the game.
February 4, 2008: Retirement Announcement
On February 4, 2008, Knight announced his retirement from coaching. His son, Pat Knight, was immediately named his successor at Texas Tech.
2008: Retirement from Texas Tech
In 2008, Bob Knight retired from his position as the head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the 2007-08 season.
2008: Hired as ESPN Analyst
In 2008, ESPN hired Knight as a studio analyst and occasional color commentator.
2008: Volkswagen Commercial Appearance
In 2008, Knight appeared in a Volkswagen commercial where he threw a chair off the stage after a comment about winning titles.
2009: Production of Coaching DVD Libraries
In 2009, Knight produced three instructional coaching DVD libraries with Championship Productions.
April 18, 2011: Controversial Comments About Kentucky Basketball
On April 18, 2011, video surfaced showing Knight making controversial claims about Kentucky's basketball team, which he later apologized for.
November 15, 2011: Krzyzewski surpasses Knight's win total
On November 15, 2011, Mike Krzyzewski surpassed Knight's win total.
November 2012: Called Indiana Basketball Game
In November 2012, Knight called an Indiana men's basketball game for the first time, after previously refusing to do so.
January 2, 2013: Boeheim surpasses Knight's win total
On January 2, 2013, Jim Boeheim surpassed Knight's win total.
2013: Publication of 'The Power of Negative Thinking'
In 2013, Knight and Bob Hammel published "The Power of Negative Thinking: An Unconventional Approach to Achieving Positive Results", discussing Knight's game preparation approach.
April 2, 2015: ESPN Contract Not Renewed
On April 2, 2015, ESPN announced it would not renew its contract with Knight.
2016: Support for Donald Trump's Presidential Campaign
In 2016, Knight supported Donald Trump's presidential campaign.
2016: Publication of 'Days of Knight: How the General Changed My Life'
In 2016, former player Kirk Haston wrote "Days of Knight: How the General Changed My Life", published in 2016.
March 2017: Comments on Indiana Administration
In a March 2017 interview on The Dan Patrick Show, Knight expressed his continued animosity towards Indiana, stating he hoped the administration that fired him was "all dead."
2017: Publication of 'Following the General: Why Three Coaches Have Been Unable to Return Indiana Basketball to Greatness'
In 2017, Terry Hutchens published "Following the General: Why Three Coaches Have Been Unable to Return Indiana Basketball to Greatness" discussing Knight's coaching legacy.
2018: Appearance at Trump Rally in Indianapolis
In 2018, Knight appeared at a rally in Indianapolis for Donald Trump and called him "a great defender of the United States of America".
February 27, 2019: Comments on Knight's ill health
On February 27, 2019, Don Fischer, an IU radio announcer since 1974, said during an interview that Knight was in ill health. He continued by saying Knight's health "has declined" but did not offer any specifics.
April 4, 2019: Public Appearance and Memory Issues
On April 4, 2019, Knight made his first public appearance after comments about his health. He appeared with Bob Hammel and showed signs of struggling with his memory.
July 10, 2019: Reported Purchase of Home in Bloomington
On July 10, 2019, it was reported that Knight and his wife purchased a home in Bloomington, suggesting a return to live there.
February 8, 2020: Return to Assembly Hall
On February 8, 2020, Knight returned to Assembly Hall at halftime of the Indiana-Purdue game, receiving a standing ovation. This was his first Indiana game appearance since his dismissal 20 years prior.
March 11, 2021: Williams surpasses Knight's win total
On March 11, 2021, Roy Williams surpassed Knight's win total.
November 1, 2023: Bob Knight's Death
On November 1, 2023, Bob Knight passed away. By the time of his death, he had won 902 NCAA Division I men's basketball games, which was the sixth all-time record.
2023: Last undefeated national champions
As of the end of the 2023-24 season, the 1975-1976 Indiana Hoosiers remain the last team to be undefeated national champions.
