“The General” as most Indiana fans know him, retired on February 4, 2008. At that time I didn’t think that was the last we would hear of him, and I was right! Bob Knight’s name is now being tossed around all over the sports and news networks as a possibility as the next head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs! Georgia is in the Southeastern Conference with Arkansas (John Pelphrey), Florida (Billy Donovan), and Kentucky (Billy Gillispie)! I can already play out in my mind the match ups with these teams and coaches! LSU is also in the SEC. When Mr. Knight was coaching at Indiana, they met LSU in the regional finals, back when Shaquille O’Neal was a stand out there. IU stopped O’Neal and won the game, but there was controversy. It would be awesome to have some rivalry back in the college game, with Mr. Knight right in the middle of it all!
Coach Knight has won 902 games, more than any other NCAA Division I head coach. From 1971-2000, he coached at Indiana University. He led the Hoosiers to 3 NCAA Championships, 1 NIT, 11 Big Ten Conference Championships, and in 1984 he coached the Olympic Team who won the gold medal for the United States!
In 1976, the Hoosiers, under the direction of Coach Knight, were 32-0 for the entire season, winning the NCAA Championship as the only team to go the entire season undefeated. That feat has yet to be repeated and probably never will (IMHO). Tom Crean is now the head coach of the Hoosiers. They have lost 11 straight games, are 0-8 in the Big Ten, and stand at 5-15 overall. (this will be a topic for another BLOG at another time)
IU’s president in 2000 was Myles Brand. On September 10, 2000, Brand relieved Mr. Knight of his duties when he refused to retire. After a year off, he accepted the head coaching job at Texas Tech. As the Red Raiders head coach, Mr. Knight averaged 21 wins per season.
Georgia is buzzing about the possibility of The General turning their program around. The players are excited as well. Sources close to Bob Knight say he’s interested. If you happen to read this Mr. Knight, please say you’ll coach again!
1 comment:
Um....you realize that the Division 1 coach with the most wins is NOT Robert Montgomery Knight, don't you? It's Pat Summit, the women's coach at Tennessee.
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