Texas Tech Fires Dickey
L U B B O C K, Texas, March 9, 2001 -- James Dickey was fired today as TexasTech's basketball coach, clearing the way for the possible hiringof Bob Knight.
Athletic director Gerald Myers said the decision was made a weekago and that he and school President David Schmidly met with Knighton Monday in Florida.
"We felt it was necessary for us to talk to Bob Knight toassess his interest and also our interest," said Myers, whopreceded Dickey as Tech's coach and is longtime friends withKnight.
Sanctions Derailed Program
Knight has been out of coaching since Indiana fired him on Sept.10 for a "pattern of unacceptable behavior." He won threenational championships in 29 years at the school, but his tenurewas marred by emotional outbursts and physical attacks.
Dickey's status has been in limbo as the Red Raiders lost 11 oftheir last 12 games to finish 9-19, their worst record in his 10seasons. This was Tech's fourth straight losing season after a runof three solid years, which included going 30-2 and reaching theNCAA tournament's round of 16 in 1995-96.
The program derailed shortly thereafter because of NCAAsanctions that stripped nine scholarships the past four years. Theschool's violations included recruiting and unethical conduct.
As the losses mounted, attendance plummeted. The men wereconsistently outdrawn by Tech's highly ranked women's team at thenew United Spirit Arena. Coincidentally, Knight and Indiana werepart of the first game at the $45 million facility when it openedin November 1999.
‘The General’ Has Been Courted
Hiring the 60-year-old Knight surely would boost Tech's ticketsales. And for all his off-court transgressions, "The General"has never been punished by the NCAA.
Knight's coaching credentials likely would help recruiting andcould make Tech more of a contender in the Big 12, a deepbasketball conference. The Red Raiders were third in the league'sfirst season, but have been in the second tier ever since.
Since leaving Indiana, Knight has been rumored to be wanted byseveral colleges. He's also discussed jobs in television and hasbeen spotted at NBA practices.
Knight has notified Indiana that he plans to sue the universityover wrongful termination. A letter he sent accuses the school ofslander, libel, inflicting emotional distress and interfering inhis subsequent job search. It claims the university's actions costhim more than $7 million.
Dickey’s Declining Record
Tech endured four straight losing seasons before Dickey arrived.The Red Raiders went 15-14 his first year and didn't have a losingrecord until the recent skid began in 1997-98.
Dickey leaves his first Division I head coaching job with arecord of 166-124 and two NCAA tournament berths. His final gamewas Thursday's loss to Oklahoma State in the first round of the Big12 tournament.
Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton, for whom Dickey worked atArkansas and Kentucky, defended his friend's record.
"You can't ever criticize his coaching," Sutton said. "I'vehad some great coaches and James is as good as any of them. A coachcan only take you so far."