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Bob Knight, coaching Indiana University in 1994, yells and points during a game against Kentucky.
Bob Knight, coaching Indiana University in 1994, yells and points during a game against Kentucky.
John Biever/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
Sports

Bob Knight’s life in pictures

Updated 9:52 AM EDT, Thu November 2, 2023
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Hall of Fame college basketball head coach Bob Knight has died Wednesday at the age of 83, his family announced.

Knight began coaching for Indiana in 1971. Through his 29-year career he led the Hoosiers to three NCAA championships and 11 Big Ten championships, winning a total of 661 games with Indiana. He also coached the gold medal-winning mens basketball team during the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Behind his success, though, was what many deemed an aggressive coaching style. National television cameras captured the coach pulling players off the floor by their jerseys. There was chair-throwing, and a 1997 incident — which was recorded and leaked to CNN — showing Knight grabbing player Neil Reed by the neck during a practice.

By the time Knight resigned as the coach of Texas Tech in 2008, he was — at the time — the winningest coach in Division I men's college basketball history.

Knight, playing for Ohio State, vies for possession of the ball in 1961.
Knight, playing for Ohio State, vies for possession of the ball in 1961.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Knight is photographed with Boston College coach Bob Cousy and Tennessee coach Ray Mears ahead of the National Invitation Tournament in 1969. Knight coached the Army men's basketball team from 1963 to 1971.
Knight is photographed with Boston College coach Bob Cousy and Tennessee coach Ray Mears ahead of the National Invitation Tournament in 1969. Knight coached the Army men's basketball team from 1963 to 1971.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Knight talks to Indiana Hoosiers players during a time-out in 1973.
Knight talks to Indiana Hoosiers players during a time-out in 1973.
Rich Clarkson/NCAA Photos/Getty Images
Knight sits in the locker room after a game in 1973.
Knight sits in the locker room after a game in 1973.
Rich Clarkson/NCAA Photos/Getty Images
Knight is walked off the court by a tearful Quinn Buckner, left, and Scott May after the Hoosiers won the NCAA championship in 1976.
Knight is walked off the court by a tearful Quinn Buckner, left, and Scott May after the Hoosiers won the NCAA championship in 1976.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Knight hugs his mother, Hazel, after Indiana's NCAA tournament victory in 1976.
Knight hugs his mother, Hazel, after Indiana's NCAA tournament victory in 1976.
AP
Knight walks out of a courthouse in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1979 after allegedly assaulting a police officer before a team practice.
Knight walks out of a courthouse in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1979 after allegedly assaulting a police officer before a team practice.
Manny Millan/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
Knight is photographed with his family in Bloomington, Indiana, in 1981.
Knight is photographed with his family in Bloomington, Indiana, in 1981.
Rich Clarkson/NCAA Photos/Getty Images
Knight on the phone in his Bloomington office in 1981.
Knight on the phone in his Bloomington office in 1981.
Rich Clarkson/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
Knight talks to Indiana's Isiah Thomas on the sidelines during a game in 1981.
Knight talks to Indiana's Isiah Thomas on the sidelines during a game in 1981.
George Tiedemann/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
Knight talks to a group of young basketball players attending the Bobby Knight Basketball School in 1983.
Knight talks to a group of young basketball players attending the Bobby Knight Basketball School in 1983.
Mark Crowley/AP
Knight talks to Pat Summitt, Tennessee women's basketball coach, in 1982. Knight and Summitt coached the US men's and women's basketball teams at the 1984 Olympics.
Knight talks to Pat Summitt, Tennessee women's basketball coach, in 1982. Knight and Summitt coached the US men's and women's basketball teams at the 1984 Olympics.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
The US Men's Olympic basketball team carries Knight after winning the gold medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
The US Men's Olympic basketball team carries Knight after winning the gold medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Wally McNamee/Corbis/Getty Images
Knight pitches a chair across the floor during Indiana's 72-63 loss to Purdue in 1985.
Knight pitches a chair across the floor during Indiana's 72-63 loss to Purdue in 1985.
AP
Knight speaks with ESPN announcer Dick Vitale before a game in 1994.
Knight speaks with ESPN announcer Dick Vitale before a game in 1994.
Bill Frakes/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
Knight attends Michael Jordan's jersey retirement in 1994.
Knight attends Michael Jordan's jersey retirement in 1994.
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images
Knight and Michigan State coach Tom Izzo talk before a game in 2000.
Knight and Michigan State coach Tom Izzo talk before a game in 2000.
Al Goldis/AP
Knight stands with his wife Karen after addressing Indiana University students after being fired in 2000. Indiana dismissed Knight after what the school said at the time was "<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2000%2FUS%2F09%2F11%2Fknight.protest%2F" target="_blank">a pattern of unacceptable behavior</a>."
Knight stands with his wife Karen after addressing Indiana University students after being fired in 2000. Indiana dismissed Knight after what the school said at the time was "a pattern of unacceptable behavior."
Reuters
Knight appears on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" in 2002.
Knight appears on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" in 2002.
Paul Drinkwater/NBC/Getty Images
Knight, who coached at Texas Tech from 2001 to 2008, gestures to the crowd after his team defeated the New Mexico Lobos to give Knight 880 wins in 2007.
Knight, who coached at Texas Tech from 2001 to 2008, gestures to the crowd after his team defeated the New Mexico Lobos to give Knight 880 wins in 2007.
Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters
Mike Krzyzewski and Knight embrace after Krzyzewski broke Knight's record for most Division I coaching wins in 2011. Knight was at the game serving as a television commentator. Krzyzewski played point guard for Knight at Army and later served as his assistant at Indiana.
Mike Krzyzewski and Knight embrace after Krzyzewski broke Knight's record for most Division I coaching wins in 2011. Knight was at the game serving as a television commentator. Krzyzewski played point guard for Knight at Army and later served as his assistant at Indiana.
Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
Then-presidential nominee Donald Trump is introduced by Knight during a campaign rally in 2016.
Then-presidential nominee Donald Trump is introduced by Knight during a campaign rally in 2016.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Knight and former Indiana Hoosiers player Isaiah Thomas appear on the court at half time during a game against the Purdue Boilermakers in 2020.
Knight and former Indiana Hoosiers player Isaiah Thomas appear on the court at half time during a game against the Purdue Boilermakers in 2020.
Justin Casterline/Getty Images
Bob Knight, coaching Indiana University in 1994, yells and points during a game against Kentucky.
Bob Knight, coaching Indiana University in 1994, yells and points during a game against Kentucky.
John Biever/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
Bob Knight, coaching Indiana University in 1994, yells and points during a game against Kentucky.
Bob Knight, coaching Indiana University in 1994, yells and points during a game against Kentucky.
John Biever/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images

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