Bobby Knight may have been the greatest basketball coach who ever lived- as far as coaching basketball. He won three National Championships at Indiana. He also had a terrible temper which ultimately led to his demise at Indiana in the late 90’s. Sadly he will be remembered as much for the controversies as he will be for his coaching. Attached below is an article listing all of Knight’s incidents.
I was watching that game in television when one of the most famous Bobby incidents happened- the throwing of the chair in a game against Purdue. I can’t say I was shocked by it- if John Wooden had done something like this it would have been shocking but Bob Knight- anything was possible with him.
Note- The college football version of Bobby Knight was Ohio State’s Woody Hayes- who today is remembered outside of Ohio at least as- the coach who punched the player from Clemson which ended his coaching career. Bob Knight was at Ohio State during Woody Hayes tenure there- not as a football player but as a basketball player. Both Knight and Hayes were Ohio boys. Both were a lot alike. They were very touch on their players while they played for them- but after their playing days were over- both coaches were always there for their players and the relationships changed. But both had volcanic tempers.
slicethelife 
I wasn’t watching the game but, I saw the clips. I remember this.
There are some Duke fans that would disagree with you about the “greatest coach” moniker. I know. I live with one.
There is another one with temper issues…Tark the Shark. Remember him biting the towel?
If I were hiring a head coach and had my choice of anyone who ever coached- Bob Knight would not even make my list of candidates- but as far as just coaching a game he was fantastic but the other issues would be why I wouldn’t consider him. Coach K would certainly be on my short list.
Hell. I’ve seen Coach K get red in the face and lose it, too. LOL!
I was born and raised an N.C. State Pack fan. My dad graduated from there in 1967. Jimmy V is a god, there but…*sigh*…we SUCK, now. LOL!
Every coach I think loses it- but Knight did things that were embarrassing. He ruled like a bully etc..
That 1983 championship Jimmy V mastered was one of the highlights of my 50 plus years as a sports fan. Remarkable.
Heh. Yeah. I remember him running across the floor, looking for someone to hug.
I also remember my dad, sitting on the floor, watching the 1974 NCAA championship game, pulling up carpet and hollering. LOL!
David Thompson’s team
I take it Thompson was the UCLA coach?
the superstar player for NCST.
Eh. I was seven years old. Don’t remember that. 😊
no worries! they had an odd looking team Tom Burleson was 7’2″ and Monte Towe was 5’7
That’s quite a range.
For college basketball fans, there’s no forgetting this image. Ignoring Knight’s actions for a moment, what gets me about watching that video now, is the lack of security guards. Today, in a game of that level, I’d expect to see one or two police officers or similar security assigned to escort the coach to and from the floor, for his protection. And it’s not just guards for the coaches. The college basketball arenas I’m in these days have swarms of security at each entrance, and throughout the seating.
Hard to believe that was 35 years ago- and yes the times were much different at sporting events- and I guess about anywhere. I recall a trip to Washington, D.C. with my parents when I was 9- 1970- and we walked right into the capitol building. Some guard was sitting half asleep he got up and asked us if we wanted to see the senate and house chambers- and just pointed us in the right directions..
Those were different times indeed.
I seen hockey coaches do this years before Bobby.
I think of all his offenses this actually was pretty minor. It wasn’t like the chair hit anyone. Just Bobby throwing a little tantrum. Now some of the other things he did…. but this was on camera during a game.
I like a little color and passion.
I was a big fan of Knight’s in the 70’s and 80’s- I don’t know what happened to him later on. Maybe the times just changed and he didn’t.
Times change and things evolve. Coaching would not be easy today.
Not at all. A young Bob Knight would have a hard time today. Like a young Billy Martin etc.
For every played that disliked these guys there were players who loved them.
I agree. But those fellows who played for them grew up in a tougher era than we are in now. Now they want a friend as coach.
I agree
nice post!