Knight to Get Coaching Offer on Friday

L U B B O C K, Texas, March 22 -- Bob Knight will be offered Texas Tech’shead coaching job Friday following a whirlwind courtship that beganfour days before Tech fired James Dickey.

Texas Tech spokeswoman Cindy Rugeley said athletic directorGerald Myers told her he would recommend Knight, his friend of 30years, for the job. Tech president David Schmidly said Wednesday hewould follow Myers’ recommendation.

Late Wednesday night, Schmidly said he received Myers’ writtenrecommendation but wouldn’t disclose the contents.

“I didn’t know that he had made his recommendation, but I don’tthink anything has happened that would change his mind,” Rugeleysaid Wednesday night.

She said she fully anticipated Thursday’s tasks would includecalling a news conference for Friday.

10-Day Waiting Period Winds Down

Knight can be named as Tech’s coach as soon as a 10-day waitingperiod expires at 2 p.m. Friday. Dickey was fired on March 9.

“Gerald Myers told me this afternoon that he was going torecommend that Bob Knight be hired,” Rugeley said.

Schmidly seemed to be in agreement with Myers’ recommendationfollowing a rather tame faculty senate meeting that was expected tobring vehement opposition, but instead brought a discourse abouthow Knight would fit into the university and how the universitywould handle any misbehavior.

“What better thing could happen for Texas Tech,” Schmidly saidof Knight coming to Tech following the hour-long meeting.

“I like the fact that he doesn’t violate NCAA rules and that’sthe way he chooses to win,” Schmidly said. “We’ve had a problemwith NCAA penalties. And that’s set this institution back. We don’tever want to be on the wrong side of the NCAA rules again.”

Schmidly Cites Admiration, Respect

Schmidly also said he expects the respect and admiration Knighthas for Myers to prevent any outbursts like those reported duringthe coach’s 29 years at Indiana.