Sports world reacts to death of Indiana basketball coach Bob Knight

Controversial basketball legend Bob Knight has died at 83.

Bob Knight, the legendary Indiana basketball coach and firebrand courtside personality, died at the age of 83 on Wednesday, his family confirmed in a statement.

From winning three national titles with the Hoosiers to being ejected for throwing a chair onto the basketball court in frustration in 1985, Knight became synonymous with college basketball, for better and for worse.

After joining the Hoosiers in 1971 following a stint at Army, his Indiana teams were some of the most ferocious of the 1970s and 1980s, and he entrenched himself in Bloomington as the most notable sports figure in Indiana history.

Knight’s career cannot be remembered without his infamous temper and a lengthy history of violent acts, like in 1997 when he was videoed choking one of his Indiana players.

He played college ball at Ohio State and coached at Texas Tech after he was fired from Indiana in 2000. He led the Red Raiders from 2001 until 2008, where he would win his 900th game and eventually retire. His son Pat coached at Texas Tech for three seasons after his father’s exit.

After his coaching days, Knight worked as a broadcaster at ESPN until 2015. He finally returned to Indiana in 2020, roughly two decades after his firing, for a basketball game.

Many in the sports world offered condolences for Knight’s passing, remembering his coaching and his short fuse.