A History of Coach Bobby Knight's Extreme Outbursts

How Much is Too Much?

Anyone who has so much as a passing interest in college basketball knows who Bobby Knight is. He is the former head coach of the US Military Academy and University of Indiana basketball teams and now coaches the Texas Tech Red Raiders. He is the second most successful coach in NCAA Division-1 basketball history with 868 wins, trailing leader Dean Smith by only 11 victories. Knight has led 3 teams to an NCAA Championship (all Indiana) and coached the Michael Jordan-led 1984 Dream Team to an Olympic gold medal. He lead the 1976 Indiana Hoosiers to a unparalleled 32-0 season, a feat that hasn't been accomplished since. Knight is 1 of only 4 men to have won an NCAA Championship, an NIT Championship, and an Olympic gold medal. Unfortunately, Knight won't be remembered only for these incredible feats but more for his raging temper.

Coach Knight is, arguably, the most controversial and hot tempered coach in NCAA history. Since his head coaching career began in 1965 at Army he has been accused on assaulting his players on more than one occasion, fined, suspended, arrested, restrained from attacking fans, and dismissed from his job. Knight has been the target of players, fans, women's rights activists, and even his own staff.

Knight's behavioral problems first came to a head in 1976 when, after defeating Kentucky in a regular season game, Coach Knight had a heated discussion with Wildcat's coach and former friend Joe Hall. After the discussion Hall turned to walk back to his bench and Knight slapped him across the back of the head. No charges were ever filed on the incident and the two have since reconciled. In 1976 Knight's antics came into light again when he was upset because sophomore Jim Wisman had caused 2 turnovers in a game, prompting Knight to jerk him off the floor by his jersey and place him in his seat. After the game Wisman said that his coach was right in his actions but Knight quickly apologized and said he wasn't.