Bobby Knight timeline

2004

Feb. 2: With his team fighting for first place in the Big 12, Knight gets into an "incident" with Texas Tech chancellor, Dr. David Smith. The altercation, best described as verbal spat, is witnessed by many, including Red Raiders AD Gerald Myers, the man who originally brought Knight to Lubbock.

2003

Oct. 23: Star player Andre Emmett, who flirted with entering the NBA Draft in the offseason, is named Big 12 preseason player of the year. With him in the fold, the Red Raiders race out to a 10-3 start. Knight gets his 10th victory against former pupil Steve Alford, head coach at Iowa. During a televised interview that probed the misconception that there was a rift between the two, Knight responded angrily. "That's all [expletive]," Knight said. "Steve was coming to my basketball camp since he was 9 years old until he got out of high school, and [Alford] was a great part of Indiana basketball. I can't believe you'd ask me a question that negative." Knight then launched into a profanity-laden monologue where he wondered aloud why the media doesn't ask about Alford's contributions to Indiana or Iowa.

April 3: Texas Tech's basketball season ended with a consolation game victory in the NIT. The Red Raiders failed to make the NCAA Tournament despite advancing to the Big 12 Tournament semifinals and losing in OT to eventual champion Oklahoma. Denied an at-large bid, the Red Raiders made the best of their NIT experience, winning three games to get to New York and the tournament semis, where they faltered against eventual champ St. John's. Tech beat Minnesota in the consolation game, 71-61, and ended the season 22-13.

Feb. 21: After a disciplinary controversy that involved his father speaking out againt Coach Knight, swingman Nick Valdez left the team. Valdez apologized for his father's outspoken behavior and was given a chance to return -- with stipulations. Coach Knight explained the stipulations included fulfilling all his academic responsibilities and following the established team policies. He also would run sprints for changing room assignments at Iowa State and for other violations of team policies. If any further irresponsible behavior occurred, he then would be dismissed from the team. According to Texas Tech's athletic web site, upon hearing this, Valdez answered, "I'm going to leave" and never returned.

Feb. 5: With fans chanting his name and the magic number, Bob Knight entered the 800-win club at home in Lubbock with a 75-49 win over Nebraska. After the victory, Knight took to the microphone and spoke to his supporters. "I've had some milestones, but I've never had a milestone in front of a crowd that I appreciated so much," he said. When he was finished speaking, his team circled around him, hugging him and jumping up and down.

Jan. 20: Oklahoma's Hollis Price hit a jumper at the buzzer to force overtime and the Sooners went on to beat Texas Tech 69-64 to leave Bob Knight with 798 coaching victories. Next up for the Red Raiders are Oklahoma State and Colorado at home as Knight looks to reach the 800 win milestone.

Jan. 18: Texas Tech beats Baylor 80-64 in Lubbock and Knight earned his 798th coaching victory.

Jan. 11: For the first time in 44 games as Texas Tech's coach, Knight was slapped with a technical foul. It happened in the Red Raiders' 68-44 loss at Kansas State after Knight complained of a possession call made directly in front of the Tech bench. The loss left him three wins shy of the 800 mark.

2002

Nov. 22: Bob Knight earns his 788th career victory as Texas Tech opens the regular season with a 85-76 victory over N.C.-Wilmington.

March 15: In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Knight's 6th-seeded Red Raiders were upset by 11th-seeded Southern Illinois 76-68. It was only the second NCAA win ever for the Salukis, who eventually made it to the Sweet 16 before falling to Connecticut. It was yet another disappointingly short run in the tournament for Knight, whose teams have lost in the first round in five of his last seven NCAA appearances.

March 10: In his first season with Texas Tech, Knight led the Red Raiders, who went from 9-19 in 2001 to 23-9 in 2002, to its first NCAA bid since 1996.

March 9: After leading Texas Tech to victories over Texas A&M and Oklahoma State in the first two rounds of the Big 12 Tournament, Knight's Red Raiders lost to Kansas 90-50 in the semifinals. It was the biggest margin of defeat for a Knight-coached team since Indiana lost to Michigan 112-64 in February 1998. Texas Tech made only 19 of 70 shots.

2001

Nov. 16: Knight made an animated, successful return to college basketball by guiding Texas Tech to a 75-55 victory over William & Mary in his first official game at the helm of the Red Raiders. "There was no question in my mind if I wanted to coach again I would," said Knight, who was fired from Indiana in September 2000 for violating a zero-tolerance behavior policy, ending a 29-year tenure that included three national titles. "It's not like they found me on a barren island at the last second."

April 19: In a speech to a crowd of about 2,000 at Ball State, Knight barely touched on basketball. Instead, there were references to the importance of academic excellence and life in general. When he walked onto the stage of Emens Auditorium, Knight received a standing ovation.

Just more than a week into his tenure as coach at Texas Tech, Knight promptly kicked three players off the team for "some violation of team rules," school president David Schmidly said. A fourth player requested and was granted his release.

March 23: Bob Knight signed a $250,000, five-year deal with to become Texas Tech's coach. There were no behavior-related clauses in the contract, athletics director Gerald Myers said.

March 15: Knight met with the media in Lubbock, Texas, when he was in town for a three-day visit. He didn't answer questions asked by the media members.

Feb. 19: Rhode Island called Knight after he made its list of 50 potential candidates for the coaching position there. He wasn't interested in coaching the Rams, but it was believed to be the first time he had been officially contacted by a Division I school in regards to a coaching position since he was fired by Indiana.

2000

Nov. 3: A New York publisher works on a deal to publish Knight's memoirs in a deal reportedly worth $1.2 million.

Oct: 24: "This will be the last time I speak in Indianapolis," says Knight before a crowd at an Indianapolis charity fundraiser. He does indicate he will coach again, and he indicated he possibly had plans to leave the state.

Sept. 16: Knight's lawyer questioned a contract provision that placed restrictions on where the former Indiana coach could next work. Lawyer Russell Yates said the school cannot dictate where Knight can and can't coach.

Sept. 13: Knight bids farewell to Indiana University, saluting and cheering students and urging them to forget about the freshman Kent Harvey, who played a part in the coach's firing. In a television interview that same day he said, "I've always felt I've got to be me, I can't be something that someone's trying to construct."

Sept. 10: Knight is fired for violating the "zero-tolerance" policy and for what university president Myles Brand called a "pattern of unacceptable behavior."

Sept. 7: He's accused of grabbing a student by the arm and lecturing him about manners after the coach was addressed solely by his last name.

In May, Knight was fined $30,000, suspended for three games and placed under a "zero-tolerance" behavior policy. An investigation by the university revealed the following new allegations involving Knight: that he physically intimidated the 64-year-old secretary of athletics director Clarence Doninger, injured his son Tim in a 1994 altercation, attacked assistant coach Ron Felling and choked and punched IU's longtime sports information director, Kit Klingelhoffer, in the 1970s over a news release that upset the coach.

In May, on the eve of the trustees' meeting with the university president, Knight issued a 10-paragraph statement in which he recognized his legendary temper and admitted to needing a more diplomatic approach: "There are times when my passion for basketball led me into confrontations that I could have handled a lot better. I've always been too confrontational, especially when I know I'm right."

He was investigated in March by the university after former player Neil Reed said Knight choked him during a practice in 1997. A videotape of the practice appeared to support Reed. Reports then surfaced of other confrontations. In one, a university secretary said an enraged Knight once threw a vase in her direction.

Indiana finished what will turn out to be the last season under Knight's direction by going 20-9 and 10-6 in the Big Ten.

In the postseason, as the No. 6 seed in East Region they lose to No. 11 Pepperdine 77-57 in first round of NCAA Tournament, the worst first-round loss in Knight's tenure at Indiana.

Former Hoosier Steve Alford's returned to Indiana as Iowa's head coach. During the postgame news conference Knight has this to say: "If Alford wants to sit down and talk with me, instead of holding press conferences and talking about a bunch of (expletive), I'll explain things to him," Knight said.

1999

Knight is investigated for possible battery after allegedly choking a man at a restaurant. The man reportedly confronted Knight as he was leaving, contending he heard Knight make a racist remark

Knight accidentally shoots his hunting partner in the back and is cited for failing to report the incident and hunting without a license in Wisconsin.

Although his assistant leaves messages of get-well wishes from coach Knight, Knight himself offered little or no sympathy to Luke Recker after he was involved in car accident in which his girlfriend, Kelly Craig, was partially paralyzed. Recker had transferred to Arizona following the 1998-99 season.

Longtime assistant Ron Felling is fired, coming five days after Knight allegedly threw Felling out of a chair because the assistant was criticizing the program to a former IU player over the phone.

The No. 6-seeded Hoosiers suffer their worst tourney loss ever by falling to No. 3 seed St. John's in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Indiana finished the season with a record of 23-11, 9-7 in the Big Ten.

1998

Indiana finished the season 20-12 and 9-7 in the Big Ten. As the No. 7 seed in East Region of the NCAA Tournament, they fell to No. 2 Connecticut 78-68 in second round.

Knight is ejected after receiving three technicals on Senior Night vs. Illinois (two are required for ejection). He was fined $10,000 by the Big Ten for berating referee Ted Valentine, whose officiating Knight called "the greatest travesty" he had seen in his coaching career.

1997

Knight walked 2.5 miles back to the team hotel at 1 a.m. in the rain following the Hoosier's 80-62 first round NCAA Tournament loss to No. 9 Colorado. Indiana finished the season 22-11 and 9-9 in the Big Ten.

March 5: Knight earned victory No. 700 with a 70-66 victory over Wisconsin.

Jason Collier transferred to Georgia Tech at the midseason semester break, saying he no longer enjoyed basketball and was tired of the verbal abuse from Knight.

Neil Reed is voted off the team and subsequently transfers to Southern Miss.

1996

Indiana ended the season 19-12, 12-6 in the Big Ten, after losing in the first round of the NCAA tourney as the No. 6 seed to No. 11 Boston College 64-51.

1995

The No. 9-seeded Hoosiers lost to No. 8 Missouri 65-60 in first round of the NCAA Tournament, during which Knight was reprimanded and fined $30,000 by the NCAA for an outburst at a news conference because a NCAA media liaison erroneously said he would not attend the news conference. Indiana finished the season 19-12, and 11-7 in the Big Ten.

1994

No. 5-seeded Indiana reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, but finished the season with a record of 21-9, 12-6 in the Big Ten, after losing to No. 9 Boston College 77-68.

Knight accidentally head-butted freshman Sherron Wilkerson during a timeout at Michigan State. After the next game, the Hoosiers' home finale against Wisconsin, Knight took the public address microphone and recited a profane verse directed at his critics.

1993

Playing as the No. 1 seed in the Midwest, Knight's Hoosiers lost to No. 2 Kansas 83-77 in the regional final. Indiana ended the season at 31-4, 17-1 in the Big Ten, and Knight won his 11th Big Ten regular-season title, which tied him for first among Big Ten coaches.

Knight earned his 600th win, 75-67 over Iowa, on January 6 at the age of 52. He became the youngest coach to win 600 games.

He was suspended for one game after a sideline tirade in a 101-82 victory over Notre Dame. Knight screamed at his son Pat and kicked him in the leg. When fans behind the Indiana bench booed, Knight turned and responded with an obscenity.

1992

Indiana reached the Final Four as the West Region No. 2 seed, before succumbing to Duke 81-78, to finish the season 27-7, 14-4 Big Ten.

During practice for the NCAA West Regional, he playfully gave a mock whipping to Calbert Cheaney, a black player. Several black leaders said they were offended. Knight denied any racial connotations. He noted the bull whip was given to him by the players, including Cheaney.

He cancelled the annual team banquet after a loss to Purdue cost Indiana a share of the Big Ten championship.

Knight bars a female Associated Press reporter from the locker room, saying it is inappropriate for her to be in there and also against university policy. All reporters were subsequently barred from the locker room.

1991

Indiana earned a conference co-championship with a record of 15-3, they were 29-5 overall, and went on to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tourney, only to fall as the No. 2 seed in the Southeast to No. 3 Kansas 83-65.

Knight asked not to be nominated again to the Basketball Hall of Fame, calling the voters' rejection of him in 1987 a "slap in the face." He was elected and inducted into the Hall in 1991.

He publicly feuded with Illinois coach Lou Henson, who called him a "classic bully" who thrives on intimidation.

1990

Indiana finished the season with a record of 18-11, 8-10 Big Ten, and fell to No. 9 California 65-63 in first round of NCAA Tournament as the No. 8 seed.

1989

No. 2 seed Indiana lost to No. 3 Seton Hall 78-65 in Sweet 16, finishing the season 27-8. They won the Big Ten with a 15-3 record and Knight was named Big Ten coach of the year as well as national coach of the year by AP, UPI, USBW

Knight got his 500th win with a 92-76 victory over Northwestern in January.

He became the winningest coach in Big Ten history after he entered the season with 212 conference wins, just one behind Purdue's Ward "Piggy" Lambert, and surpassed him with a 74-73 win at Purdue.

1988

One year removed from winning the national title, No. 4 seed Indiana lost to No. 13 Richmond 72-69 in first round of NCAA Tournament to finish with a record of 19-10, 11-7 in the Big Ten.

"I think that if rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it," said Knight in an interview with Connie Chung, who asked how he handles stress. He explained he was talking about something beyond one's control, not the act of rape. The remark triggered protests and a march of about 300 people on the campus.

1987

Knight was named the Naismith national coach of the year and led the Hoosiers to a 30-4 record, 15-3 Big Ten, and a national title (which turned out to be the last under Knight) after defeating Syracuse 74-73. During an NCAA regional tournament game against LSU he banged his fist on the scorer's table after being assessed a technical foul. The university was fined $10,000 by the NCAA and Knight received a reprimand.

1986

Indiana fell in the first round of NCAA Tournament as the No. 3 seed to No. 14 Cleveland State 83-79. The Hoosiers ended the season at 21-8, 13-5 in the Big Ten.

He received a technical foul for shouting at the officials during a game against Illinois, then kicked a megaphone and chewed out the Indiana cheerleaders for disrupting a free throw attempt by Steve Alford.

1985

For the final time under Knight's regime, Indiana failed to reach the NCAA tourney. They finished the season at 19-14, 7-11 in the Big Ten after losing to UCLA 65-62 in NIT final four.

At the age of 44, he gained his 400th win, an 81-68 victory over Kentucky in December of 1984.

Tossed a chair across the court during a game against Purdue. Knight was ejected and suspended one game by the Big Ten. He later apologized.

1984

In the Los Angeles Olympics, coach Knight led the U.S. team to a gold medal.

As for the year with Indiana, the Knight led Hoosiers finished the season with a record of 22-9 and a Big Ten record of 13-5. In the NCAA Tournament, Indiana entered the tourney as the No. 4 seed and reached the regional final, in which they fell to No. 7 Virginia 50-48.

1983

The No. 2 seed Hoosiers lost to No. 3 Kentucky 64-59 in Sweet 16 of NCAA Tournament and ended the season 24-6, 13-5 in the Big Ten.

Critical of Big Ten officiating, Knight stood at midcourt cursing at Big Ten commissioner Wayne Duke, who was sitting in the press box. Two days later, Knight assailed the referees for the "worst officiating I have seen in 12 years."

1982

The Hoosiers lost to No. 4 UAB 80-70 in second round of NCAA Tournament as the No. 5 seed and finished the year 19-10, 12-6 in the Big Ten.

Ohio State guard Troy Taylor said Knight cursed him after he thought Taylor flagrantly fouled a player. Knight denied the charge and sent films of what happened to the Big Ten and Ohio State. Ohio State later supported Knight.

1981

Knight leads Indiana to a Big Ten conference championship after going 14-4, 26-9 overall, and he is named Big Ten coach of the year. They then defeat North Carolina 63-50 for NCAA title (Knight's second national title).

He irritated Purdue fans and officials by bringing a donkey onto his TV show wearing a Boilermakers cap. Later, in Philadelphia for the Final Four, Knight was involved in a hotel shoving match with an LSU fan, who said Knight stuffed him in a garbage can.

1980

Knight is named Big Ten coach of the year after leading the Hoosiers to a record of 21-8, 13-5 in the Big Ten, and a conference championship. As the No. 2 seed in the Mideast Region they lost to No. 6 Purdue 76-69 in Sweet 16 of NCAA Tournament.

He earned his 300th win, an 83-69 victory over Northwestern, at 40 years of age.

Knight and his wife took turns at the microphone and chided the Assembly Hall crowd for not cheering enough during a game against Northwestern.

Knight fired a blank shot from a starter's pistol at Louisville Courier-Journal reporter Russ Brown. Knight said he did it "to keep from going nuts."

1979

He was charged, and later tried and convicted in absentia, for hitting a Puerto Rican policeman before practice at the Pan American Games, at which he guided the United States to a gold medal. Knight was sentenced to six months in jail but Puerto Rico decided in 1987 to drop efforts to extradite him.

Indiana defeated Purdue 53-52 for NIT title to finish the season 22-12, 10-8 in the Big Ten.

1978

Indiana finished the season 21-8, 12-6 in the Big Ten and lost to Villanova 61-60 in Sweet 16 of NCAA Tournament.

1977

For the first and only time under Knight, Indiana failed to reach the postseason after they ended the season at 16-11, 11-7 in the Big Ten.

1976

Knight led Indiana to the last undefeated season in Division I basketball, which was culminated by defeating Michigan 86-68 for NCAA title. In earning his first national title, he was named national coach of the year by AP, UPI and Basketball Weekly, in addition to being named Big Ten coach of the year.

Knight grabbed sophomore Jim Wisman by the jersey and jerked him into his seat because he was upset over two turnovers.

At he age of 35 he recorded his 200th coaching victory, a 93-56 win over Georgia.

1975

Knight's Hoosiers finished the season at 31-1, 18-0 in the Big Ten, but lose to Kentucky 92-90 in regional final of NCAA Tournament. He was unanimous choice for national coach of the year and Big Ten coach of the year.

1974

Indiana and Knight finished the season at 23-5, 12-2 in the Big Ten and beat USC 85-60 in first Collegiate Commissioner's Association championship.

1973

Knight earned Big Ten coach of the year honors after leading the Hoosiers to a Big Ten championship and a record of 22-6, 11-3 in the Big Ten. They lost to UCLA 70-59 in the Final Four and defeated Providence 97-79 in consolation game.

1972

In Knight's inaugural season as head coach at Indiana he lead the team to a record of 17-8, 9-5 in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers lost to Princeton 68-60 in the NIT.

Bobby Knight became the head coach at Indiana at the age of 31.

1964-71

Knight finished his career at Army with a record of 102-50 in six seasons as the head coach after being an assistant coach in 1964. During his tenure, the Cadets reached the NIT four times and Knight earned his 100th victory with a 64-50 win over Navy. In his final season at the helm, Army failed to reach the postseason after finishing the season with an 11-13 record.

1963

Knight was an assistant coach at Cuyahoga Falls high school in Ohio.

1960-62

In 1962 Knight graduated from Ohio State with B.S. in history and government.

From 1960-62 while a player at Ohio State, his teams compile an overall record of 78-6. Although he was only 0-for-1 with a personal foul, the Buckeyes won the national title in 1960 with a 75-55 win over California in title game. Ohio State captured Big Ten titles during all three of Knight's seasons.