Coaching Legend Passes

When it comes to college basketball, there are a lot of big names that have floated around the sport. Most of them come from the coaching ranks. Mike Krzyzewski, Dean Smith, Jim Calhoun, John Wooden usually the names that come to mind right away. So too did Bobby Knight. Knight, who was known as The General, has gone down in the books as one of the greatest to ever coach, has passed away at the age of 83.

Knight started his coaching career during the 1965-66 season coaching at Army. He stayed there till 1971. From Army , it was on to Indiana, where he coached from 1971 until 2000. From there he coached at Texas Tech until his retirement in 2008. When he was finished, he ended with 902 career wins, which was the record at that time. now that win total sits 6th on the all time list, behind Roy Williams,  Jim Calhoun, Bob Huggins, Jim Boehim and Coach K (who played under Knight at Army). Knight won twenty or more games in a season 29 times in his coaching career, and won three national titles at Indiana along with an Olympic gold in 1984. A number of Knight's assistant coaches, players, and managers have gone on to be coaches. In the college ranks, this includes Hall of Fame Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, Steve Alford, Murry Bartow, Dan Dakich, Bob Donewald, Marty Simmons, Jim Crews, and Chris Beard. NBA coaches that came from under Bobby Knight include Randy Wittman, Mike Woodson, Keith Smart, Isiah Thomas, and Lawrence Frank.

His coaching style was legendary, as were his outbursts. Everybody remembers the chair toss against Perdue. Same goes with what got him outed at Indiana in 2000 by grabbing the arm of a freshman player. Then their was the choking of Neil Reed at a practice in 1997. That fiery temperament that made him so successful also got him into some hot water as well, some of which we just touched on.

Sure there were moments where Bobby temper got the better of him, but he knew how to get the best out of the players he had. That's what made him so good is that he was brash but he was also able to get the best out of his players and lead them to victory.

One of the greatest to ever step foot on a bench, Bobby Knight!