Knight steps down as Red Raiders coach

The Associated Press

LUBBOCK — Bob Knight resigned Monday as coach at Texas Tech, a stunning midseason move by major college basketball's winningest men's coach.

His son, Pat, a Red Raiders assistant, will take over the program. It was unclear why Knight stepped down.

Chris Cook, a spokesman for athletic director Gerald Myers, confirmed the resignation, which was first reported by the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.

"Coach Knight has had a great career. His coaching record speaks for itself. His love for basketball is clear, but most importantly his love for teaching and the students has been a hallmark of his tenure here at Texas Tech," said Sally Logue Post, a spokeswoman for Texas Tech.

Bob Knight has 902 career wins, more than any coach in the history of Division I men's basketball. Win No. 900 came last month against Texas A&M.

Knight came to Texas Tech after leaving Indiana in an acrimonious divorce. In his first six years at Tech, he led the Red Raiders to five 20-win seasons, a first at the school. They are 12-8 this season. Texas Tech's next game is Wednesday night at Baylor.

Knight passed former North Carolina coach Dean Smith as the winningest Division I coach Jan. 1, 2007, getting career win No. 880. To celebrate the milestone Knight chose My Way by Frank Sinatra, a mantra for how he navigated his personal and professional worlds.

The 67-year-old Knight has been a head coach for 42 years at three Division I schools. He got his 100th victory at Army, then moved to Indiana, where his Hoosiers went 662-239 and won three national championships from 1971-2000.

His first NCAA Title came in 1976 when Indiana went undefeated, a feat no team has done since. In 1984, he coached the U.S. Olympic team to a gold medal in Los Angeles.

Knight, known as much for his fiery temper as his coaching brilliance, came to Texas Tech in March 2001, six months after being fired by Indiana for what school officials there called a "pattern of unacceptable behavior."

He began his coaching career in 1965 at Army, where at 24 he was the youngest-ever Division I coach.

Knight won 20 or more games in 29 seasons at the three schools.