N.Y. Times News Service and The Chronicle
Bob Knight's storied career as basketball coach at Indiana University ended yesterday when the university president, Myles Brand, fired him for demonstrating a pattern of "uncivil, defiant and unacceptable" behavior since May that culminated last week with a student's allegation that Knight physically and verbally assaulted him.
Brand acknowledged that the severity of Knight's confrontation last Thursday with the student, Kent Harvey, outside Assembly Hall on the Bloomington campus was in dispute. But Brand then offered a list of transgressions by Knight that he said violated the zero-tolerance policy laid down on May 15 after an investigation by the board of trustees.
"I still believe we had to give him one last chance," Brand said at a news conference in Bloomington. "He failed to live up to that. That was his decision. His unacceptable behavior not only continued since then but increased."
Brand said he spoke with Knight by phone last Friday, and Knight wanted to keep his job. Brand said he gave Knight the option yesterday morning of resigning, but Knight would not. Brand then told the coach who has displayed a temper as fiery as his trademark red sweater that he would be dismissed.
The news of the firing brought students to the arena where banners celebrate Knight's three national championships. The students cursed Brand. Then, thousands strong, they marched about a half-mile to the president's home in the heart of the campus while police officers in riot gear stood watch. There, someone ignited an effigy of Harvey.
Not since Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes was dismissed the day after punching a Clemson player during the 1978 Gator Bowl has the fate of a collegiate athletic figure stirred such national debate.
From his home in Durham, Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski offered a simple statement on his one-time mentor's firing.
"It's tragic," said Krzyzewski, a former graduate assistant at Indiana under Knight, who was only 26 when he offered the point guard from Army a position on his coaching staff. Knight and Krzyzewski shared only one season at Indiana, where they led the 1975 Hoosiers to a 31-1 record and a perfect 18-0 in the Big 10.
Former Duke basketball player and ESPN analyst Jay Bilas shared his former coach's feelings, but he made it clear that Knight's actions were unacceptable, even for a man who has had 21 20-win seasons during his 29 years at Indiana.
"This is one of the saddest days that I can remember in the history of college basketball," Bilas said. "This is an unfortunate end to the coaching career of Bob Knight. He has been somewhat defiant and acted as if he won the battle ever since Indiana chose to retain him in May with the zero-tolerance policy. He carried on as if he was bigger than the Indiana program and that is unacceptable for any university employee."
Much like they did following accusations by Neil Reed-a former Hoosier who Knight choked during a 1997 practice-the Indiana players rallied to their leader's defense this weekend. In May, when Knight was issued the "zero-tolerance policy," fined $30,000 and suspended for three games, former players like Isaiah Thomas stood up on Knight's behalf.
Yesterday, it was primarily current players like highly coveted freshman Jared Jefferies who were the most vocal. Jefferies, who strongly considered Duke but instead chose Knight's program and his homestate of Indiana, voiced his disapproval over the firing and said he would only remain with the Hoosiers if current assistant coach Mike Davis is named interim coach this year.
Davis has been the most adamant proponent of Knight's in the days since Harvey, the 19-year-old stepson of a former Bloomington radio host and frequent Knight critic, told campus police that the coach accosted him outside the university's basketball arena. According to Harvey, upon seeing Knight he gasped, "Hey, what's up Knight?" and the coach responded by grabbing Harvey by the arm and cursing him for his lack of respect.
Knight answered the charge with a news conference last Friday in which he acknowledged holding Harvey momentarily and giving him a brief and measured lesson in "manners and civility." Davis said he witnessed the encounter and that Knight indeed never raised his voice or shook the student.
Brand tried to minimize the impact of Knight's confrontation with Harvey and merely acknowledged that Knight initiated physical contact that led to an "uncomfortable exchange."
Brand cited several incidents since the implementation of the zero-tolerance policy in May during which Knight violated "the letter and spirit of the guidelines."
"If that was the only instance that took place, you would not be here today," he told reporters yesterday.
Among other things, Brand told reporters that Knight adamantly refused to obey the university's normal chain of command, made angry and inflammatory remarks toward campus administrators, showed a lack of respect for Hoosier alumni by backing out of scheduled Varsity Club events, verbally abused a high-ranking female official in the presence of others, and showed a lack of cooperation in complying with his May sanctions.
But the straw that broke the camel's back was when Knight refused Brand's pleas to remain in town during the investigation this weekend. Brand called the coach's decision to instead go fishing in Canada the final "instance of gross insubordination."
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