Knights Gets Ready to Start Anew in Texas
L U B B O C K, Texas, March 23, 2001 -- Bob Knight is back in college basketball,ending a six-month exile to coach a Texas Tech team that hopes hecan build a winner and control his temper.
After missing his first college season since 1963-64, Knightsigned a five-year, $1.25 million deal with Tech. With otherincentives, the salary comes to about $400,000 annually, athleticdirector Gerald Myers said.
Knight's temper led to his firing from Indiana in September. Hehad coached the Hoosiers to three national titles in 29 years.
Seeking National Credibility
Myers said the hiring would give the Red Raiders instantnational credibility.
"I think this is the beginning of something special," Myerssaid. "We've got the opportunity to make this program competitiveat the highest level of college basketball."
Knight, 60, was the only serious candidate to replace JamesDickey, even though about 100 of the university's 900 facultymembers signed a petition advising against the move.
The school was scheduled to introduce Knight to the fans at anews conference on the court of the United Spirit Arena latertoday.
Infamous Flare-Ups
Indiana fired Knight for breaking a no-tolerance policy imposedafter a series of behavior problems. His list of outbursts isalmost as long as his list of coaching accomplishments.
Knight's most infamous flare-up in a game was tossing a chairacross a court. Years earlier, he was convicted for hitting aPuerto Rican policeman before a practice at the Pan American Games.
Others include kicking his son's leg during a game and allegedlychoking a player in a practice. The final straw was when he grabbedthe arm of a student who referred to the coach by his last name.
"The General" did not seriously consider any coaching jobsuntil this one. Tech officials first met with him early this monthin Florida, four days before Dickey was fired.
With Myers pushing for the hiring of his longtime friend, thebiggest hurdle was a school rule that prevented it from beingcompleted until 10 business days after Dickey was dismissed.
High Graduation Rates for Knight’s Players
Tech is counting on Knight to improve a program stuck in reversesince reaching the round of 16 five years ago. NCAA sanctions thatcost nine scholarships in the last four years were part of theproblem.
Knight, whose programs have always followed NCAA rules and hadhigh graduation rates, should help the Red Raiders become more of afactor in the competitive Big 12, which sent five teams to the NCAAtournament.
"We've had a problem with NCAA penalties and that's set thisinstitution back," President David Schmidly said. "We don't everwant to be on the wrong side of the NCAA rules again."
Lagging ticket sales has been another problem at the 2-year-old,$68 million United Spirit Arena. Tech's high-profile women'sprogram consistently outdrew the men's team and has been far morepopular. While that may change soon, Lady Raiders coach MarshaSharp has endorsed the hiring of Knight.
Fans Go On Buying Frenzy
Talk about Knight's hiring has led to a surge in interest forseason tickets. And local clothing stores that carry Techparaphernalia also have enjoyed a boost.
"It's been nuts," said Red Raider Outfitter vice presidentStephen Spiegelberg.
The store was planning to sell $12 red-and-black camouflageT-shirts at the arena Friday that read: "The General's Army:Serving to Protect the U-Knighted Spirit Arena."
Protecting their home court wasn't something the Red Raiders didparticularly well this season. The team was 7-8 at home andfinished 9-19 overall.
The season before Knight was hired by Indiana, the Hoosiers went7-17, 3-11 in Big Ten. They were 17-7, 9-5 in his first season andwent on to win four consecutive Big Ten titles from 1973 to 1976.
Overall, Knight has amassed a 763-289 career record whilecoaching at Army for six years and Indiana for 29. Besides threenational championships, his record includes 11 Big Tenchampionships and an Olympic gold medal in 1984.
Knight is 117 victories behind former North Carolina coach DeanSmith, who leads the NCAA Division I all-time coaching victorieslist.
Tech administrators would like to see Knight surpass Smith whileat Tech. The new Red Raiders coach already has begun recruiting.
He was in Hutchinson, Kan., Tuesday for the national juniorcollege tournament, where two Tech signees were playing. And hecalled a Houston-area high school coach on Wednesday to let himknow he wanted one of his players to visit Tech and hopes to signhim.
"We're getting one of the greatest basketball coaches of alltime, and he is getting the opportunity to finish up what hasalready been a great career," Myers said. "Texas Tech will be abetter place for hiring Bob Knight."